Regarding 'Three years, and another three years': Why has this line become a classic? Does it merely express the long passage of time, or does it encapsulate the identity crisis, shattered hopes, and endless waiting of an undercover agent's life?

I. Origin and Context

In the film Infernal Affairs, Chan Wing Yan (played by Tony Leung) has been undercover in a triad for seven years. During a secret meeting with Superintendent Wong, he breaks down and says:

"I want to transfer back to the police force. Tell him that for me. Three years after three years, three years after three years... now it’s almost nine years, and I’m about to retire!"

At first glance, this line seems like a mere complaint about time. But within the film’s context, it carries the character’s profound pain and sense of fate.

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II. Language and Structure: Why It Sticks

When the audience is hooked by the repetition and struck by the character’s desperate tone, the line naturally becomes iconic.

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III. It Condenses Three Tragedies of Undercover Life

1. Identity Loss

   • Seven years undercover erodes the sense of "who am I?"
   • The recurring "three years" symbolizes layers of identity stripped away, as his police persona is overwritten by his triad role.

2. Shattered Hope

   • "Transfer back to the police force" is his enduring light, repeatedly postponed.
   • The line acts like a "deferral notice," declaring hope’s repeated miscarriage.

3. Endless Waiting

   • Literally nine years, but emotionally infinite.
   • Mirrors the Buddhist concept of the "Avici Hell" (endless suffering), the core metaphor of the film’s Chinese title "無間道" (Infernal Affairs).

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IV. Thematic Resonance and Social Impact

1. Film Theme: Blurring of good/evil, cyclical fate—the line’s repetitive structure mirrors this perfectly.
2. Social Psychology: Careers, relationships, dreams... many relate to life’s "deferred promises," making "three years after three years" a universal emotional expression.
3. Spread Path:
   • Fans quote → Internet meme → Short video BGM → Ads, stand-up comedy adaptations.
   • Its meaning expands into a "universal meme" for any endlessly delayed situation.

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V. Conclusion

"Three years after three years" achieves legendary status not just by expressing duration, but by compressing an undercover agent’s:

• Identity crisis (Who am I?),
• Crushed hope (Where is the way out?),
• Eternal waiting (When will this end?)
  into a single cyclical phrase. It’s both the character’s breaking-point scream and a resonant cry for all trapped in limbo, transcending the film to become one of Chinese pop culture’s most piercing lines.

The reason why the line "three years after three years" became iconic extends far beyond merely expressing the passage of time. It profoundly encapsulates the identity loss, shattered hope, and endless waiting inherent to undercover life, thereby touching upon universal human dilemmas.

1. Identity Loss: This line is spoken by Chan Wing Yan (played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai) during a conversation with Superintendent Wong (played by Anthony Wong Chau-sang). Having been undercover for many years, living long-term within the gangster world and playing a role diametrically opposed to his true identity, each cycle of "three years" signifies him moving one step further from his real self and one step closer to the character he portrays. He begins to lose sight of who he truly is—a police officer or a gangster? This blurring and dislocation of identity plunges him into profound self-doubt and mental exhaustion. The weariness and helplessness embedded in the line are the truest reflection of this identity crisis. He yearns to return to a normal life, but the prolonged undercover operation has robbed him of any reference point for "normal."

2. Shattered Hope: The repetition of "three years after three years" inherently carries the cruel implication of hope being ignited time and again, only to be extinguished. The initial "three years" might have represented a deadline, an anticipated endpoint. However, when that deadline passes, what follows is "yet another three years," delivering a heavy blow to the undercover officer's hope of returning to the light and regaining freedom. Each "yet another three years" feels like a hammer blow, shattering his vision of the future and making him realize his predicament seems endless. This repeated shattering of hope ultimately leads to deep despair and numbness.

3. Endless Waiting: The word "after" (又) in the line emphasizes the cyclical and unending nature of the waiting. Chan Wing Yan's waiting is not passive; he actively endures immense psychological pressure and life-threatening danger. He waits for the mission to end, for his identity to be restored, for the chance to become a "good person" again. Yet, this waiting has no clear endpoint, as if he is trapped in a maze with no exit. This endless, hopeless waiting is a tremendous drain on a person's will and spirit, ultimately leaving them physically and mentally exhausted, even fostering thoughts of giving up.

Summary:

The line "three years after three years" became a classic because it uses minimal language to precisely and profoundly depict the extreme psychological torment inflicted by the unique profession of undercover work. It signifies not just the passage of time, but also an indictment of an individual's life being indefinitely "paused." It is a desperate cry reflecting identity crisis, repeatedly shattered hope, and endless waiting. This line transcends the film itself, touching upon universal human emotions when facing prolonged hardship, identity loss, and fading hope. It thus possesses immense resonant power, becoming an iconic symbol in Infernal Affairs and indeed in the history of Hong Kong cinema. It distills the essence of the "Avici Hell" – endless suffering and torment.