<p>接着 has the connotation of "picking up," after an interruption. Sometimes it could refer to "passing the baton" to another person.</p>

<p>继续 also means continue, but without the "picking up" connotation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-06T15:28:13.913Z
2012-02-06T15:28:13.913Z
Tom Au
<p>except the meaning 'catch something', 接着 usually has a function as 'then' in English.
继续 means 'go on', 'continue'.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-05T06:35:39.197Z
2012-02-05T06:35:39.197Z
Fivesheep
<p>Both of "接着" and "继续" can mean "to continue"(of course,either of them has other meanings), in this case, I would say "接着" must have an infinitive while "继续" may not have. Examples:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>现在太晚了，明天再接着写吧。  <strong>Right</strong>  <em>It's too late now. [I suggest you]continue to write tomorrow.</em><br>
  现在太晚了，明天再继续写吧。  <strong>Right</strong> <em>It's too late now. [I suggest you]continue to write tomorrow.</em><br>
  现在太晚了，明天再继续吧。   <strong>Right</strong> <em>It's too late now. [I suggest you]continue tomorrow.</em><br>
  现在太晚了，明天再接着吧。   <strong>Wrong</strong><br></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-05T14:28:24.763Z
2012-02-05T14:28:24.763Z
Huang
<p>I learned 接着 a while ago, and the <a href="http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?wdqb=%E6%8E%A5%E7%9D%80" rel="nofollow">CEDICT definition</a> is as follows:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>to catch and hold on / to continue / to go on to do sth / to follow / to carry on / then / after that / subsequently / to proceed / to ensue / in turn / in one's turn</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Today I encountered 继续 for the first time, and it has <a href="http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?wdqb=%E7%BB%A7%E7%BB%AD" rel="nofollow">this definition</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>to continue / to proceed with / to go on with</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Are they mostly interchangeable? It looks like 接着 has a few more meanings, but are there any situations where 继续 is preferred? Are there any differences in tone or formality?</p>

<word-choice><synonyms>
Difference between 继续 and 接着
# Difference between 继续 and 接着

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-05)

I learned 接着 a while ago, and the [CEDICT definition](http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?wdqb=%E6%8E%A5%E7%9D%80) is as follows:

> to catch and hold on / to continue / to go on to do sth / to follow / to carry on / then / after that / subsequently / to proceed / to ensue / in turn / in one's turn

Today I encountered 继续 for the first time, and it has [this definition](http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?wdqb=%E7%BB%A7%E7%BB%AD):

> to continue / to proceed with / to go on with

Are they mostly interchangeable? It looks like 接着 has a few more meanings, but are there any situations where 继续 is preferred? Are there any differences in tone or formality?

**Tags:** word-choice, synonyms

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-02-05. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Both of "接着" and "继续" can mean "to continue"(of course,either of them has other meanings), in this case, I would say "接着" must have an infinitive while "继续" may not have. Examples:

> 现在太晚了，明天再接着写吧。 **Right** *It's too late now. [I suggest you]continue to write tomorrow.*  
> 现在太晚了，明天再继续写吧。 **Right** *It's too late now. [I suggest you]continue to write tomorrow.*  
> 现在太晚了，明天再继续吧。 **Right** *It's too late now. [I suggest you]continue tomorrow.*  
> 现在太晚了，明天再接着吧。 **Wrong**


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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-02-06. Score: 2

接着 has the connotation of "picking up," after an interruption. Sometimes it could refer to "passing the baton" to another person.

继续 also means continue, but without the "picking up" connotation.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-02-05. Score: 1

except the meaning 'catch something', 接着 usually has a function as 'then' in English.
继续 means 'go on', 'continue'.


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