举世无双

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jǔ shì wú shuāng
• English Translation: Unrivaled in the world (peerless)
• Idiom Composition: 「举」（Whole or entire (used here in the phrase 举世 (jǔ shì) to mean the whole world)）＋「世」（World or generation）＋「无」（No or without）＋「双」（Pair or match (something that can be compared to or paired with)）
• Meaning: To be so outstanding or rare that nothing else in the entire world can compare. It is a superlative used to emphasize that the value of a person or object is at the highest possible level, with no equal.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「举世无双」 contains the following nuances:

• Overwhelming Uniqueness: It does not simply mean 'rare'; it implies being at the very 'pinnacle' of a field or category, possessing an overwhelming presence that allows for no comparison.
• Positive Evaluation: It is primarily used as a commendatory term. It is employed to celebrate the excellence of talent, beauty, art, or architecture.

3. Usage

「举世无双」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Praising Cultural Heritage or Architecture: A formal expression used to emphasize the uniqueness and high value of historical buildings or works of art.
  • Example:「中国的长城是举世无双的古代建筑奇迹。」
    （The Great Wall of China is an unrivaled miracle of ancient architecture.）
• Evaluating Talent or Skill: Used to praise a specific person's talent or technique when it has reached a level that no one else can replicate.
  • Example:「他的钢琴演奏技巧举世无双，令所有听众折服。」
    （His piano performance skills are peerless, leaving the entire audience in awe.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这颗钻石的大小和纯度都是举世无双的。
   （The size and purity of this diamond are unmatched in the world.）
2. 那是举世无双的绝景，看过的人都终身难忘。
   （That is a peerless landscape; anyone who sees it will never forget it for the rest of their lives.）
3. 这位艺术家的想象力举世无双，创作出了许多惊人的作品。
   （This artist's imagination is unrivaled, leading to the creation of many astonishing works.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This idiom is believed to have evolved from the expression 海内无双 (hǎi nèi wú shuāng), meaning 'unrivaled within the four seas' (referring to all of China), found in the work Answer to a Guest's Objections (答客难 - Dá Kè Nán) by the Han Dynasty scholar Dongfang Shuo (东方朔). While 'Hainei' originally referred to the Chinese world, 举世 (jǔ shì) expands this scope to the entire globe.
• Usage Scope: Because it is such a strong superlative, it is not used for trivial daily matters. It is generally reserved for subjects of grand scale, such as national treasures, historical figures, or magnificent natural wonders.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 独一无二 (dú yī wú èr): Unique and unmatched. This has a broader range of use than 举世无双 (jǔ shì wú shuāng) and can be applied to more everyday objects.link
  • 绝无仅有 (jué wú jǐn yǒu): Extremely rare; so few that one could almost say they do not exist.
  • 天下无双 (tiān xià wú shuāng): Unrivaled in the world.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 无独有偶 (wú dú yǒu ǒu): Not unique; when you think there is only one, another identical thing happens to exist. It implies something is not rare.
  • 比比皆是 (bǐ bǐ jiē shì): Can be found everywhere; extremely common.link
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary, nothing special.link

6. Summary

举世无双 (jǔ shì wú shuāng) is a supreme expression of praise, meaning that even if one searches the whole world, no match can be found. It is primarily used for grand subjects such as historical heritage, exceptional talent, or breathtaking landscapes. This idiom is preferred in formal writing or speeches rather than casual daily conversation.