persistent

Compared meaning: happening again and again, or continuously (adjective).

比较义项：一再发生的、持续不断的（形容词）。

• continual

  Continual describes something that happens again and again, often with brief pauses in between, and frequently suggests the repetition is annoying or bothersome.

  continual表示一再发生、中间常有短暂停顿，且往往暗示这种反复令人厌烦。

  The continual dripping of the tap kept her awake all night.

  水龙头不断滴水的声音，让她整夜无法入眠。

• running

  Running describes something continuous and unbroken, often paired with abstract nouns like feud, battle, or total, without necessarily implying separate repeated events.

  running表示连续不断、没有中断，常与feud（争执）、battle（争斗）、total（总计）等抽象名词搭配，不一定指多次分开发生的事件。

  The two neighbors have had a running feud for over a decade.

  这两位邻居之间的争执，已经持续了十多年之久。

• persistent 本词

  Persistent describes something that keeps continuing stubbornly despite efforts to stop or treat it, often used for unwanted conditions like rain, coughs, or problems.

  persistent表示尽管有人努力阻止或治疗，仍顽固地持续下去，常用于rain（雨）、cough（咳嗽）、problem（问题）等不受欢迎的状况。

  Despite the doctor's treatment, her cough remained persistent for weeks.

  尽管接受了医生的治疗，她的咳嗽仍顽固地持续了好几个星期。

• repeated

  Repeated describes distinct, separate occurrences happening many times, focusing on the count of events rather than continuity, often used with attempts, warnings, or violations.

  repeated表示多次分开发生的具体事件，看重发生的次数而非持续性，常与attempt（尝试）、warning（警告）、violation（违规）等词搭配。

  After repeated convictions for the same offense, the judge showed no leniency.

  由于因同一罪行多次被定罪，法官毫不宽容。

All four words mean happening repeatedly or continuously. Continual means repeated with pauses. Running means continuous, unbroken. Persistent means continuing despite resistance, like rain or a problem. Repeated means separate events happening many times. Not compared: persistent (stubborn person), repeated (verb), running (jogging or working).

这四个词都可用于描述反复发生或持续不断的事情，但语气和用法有别：continual强调频繁重复、中间常有短暂停顿，且往往暗示这种反复令人厌烦；running强调连续不断、没有中断，常与feud（争执）、battle（争斗）、total（总计）等抽象名词搭配；persistent强调尽管有阻力仍顽固地持续，常用于rain（雨）、cough（咳嗽）、problem（问题）等不受欢迎的状况；repeated强调多次分开发生的具体事件，看重次数而非连续性。这里不比较persistent形容人“坚持不懈”性格的义项，不比较repeated作动词“重复”的用法，也不比较running表示“跑步的”或“经营中的”等其他常见义项。