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天下无双

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: tiān xià wú shuāng
  • English Translation: Peerless; Matchless in the world
  • Idiom Composition: Sky or heavenUnder; below. Together with 天 (tiān), 天下 (tiān xià) refers to 'the world' or 'everything under the sun.'None; withoutA pair; a match. In this context, it refers to an equal or a second of its kind.
  • Meaning: Literally meaning 'without a pair under heaven,' this idiom is a superlative used to describe someone or something so outstanding in talent, appearance, or value that no equal exists in the entire world.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

天下无双 contains the following nuances:

  • Absolute Uniqueness: The idiom emphasizes a level of excellence where no comparison is possible; it is not just 'better' than others, but in a league of its own.
  • Versatility of Subject: While often applied to human qualities like valor or wisdom, it is equally applicable to inanimate objects like scenery, art, or craftsmanship.

3. Usage

天下无双 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Talent or Bravery: Used to praise historical heroes or individuals with overwhelming skill in a specific field. It has a slightly dramatic and formal tone.
    • Example:他的剑术高超,可以说是天下无双
      His swordsmanship is superb; it can truly be called peerless.)
  • Rare Objects or Art: Used to describe precious treasures or exquisitely crafted works of art that are one-of-a-kind.
    • Example:这件瓷器工艺精湛,世间罕见,真是天下无双的珍宝。
      This porcelain is exquisitely crafted and rare; it is truly a matchless treasure.)
  • Irony or Hyperbole: Occasionally used sarcastically to describe someone whose negative traits, such as arrogance or thick-skinned nature, are 'unrivaled.'
    • Example:像他这样厚脸皮的人,恐怕也是天下无双了。
      Someone as thick-skinned as him is probably one of a kind.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 这里的风景秀丽奇特,简直是天下无双
    The scenery here is beautiful and unique, simply unrivaled.
  2. 她不仅长得美丽动人,才华也是天下无双
    She is not only beautiful but her talent is also peerless.
  3. 这种独特的烹饪技法,在当时可谓天下无双
    This unique cooking technique was unmatched at the time.
  4. 虽然他自认为是天下无双的天才,但实际上能力平平。
    Although he considers himself a matchless genius, his actual abilities are mediocre.

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This idiom originates from the Records of the Grand Historian (史记) in the 'Biographies of General Li' (李将军列传). The historian Sima Qian (司马迁) praised the famous Han dynasty general Li Guang (李广) by stating his talent was 天下无双 (tiān xià wú shuāng).
  • Literary Context: It also appears in the 'Biography of Lord Xinling' (信陵君列传) to describe individuals of exceptional character and capability.
  • Modern Nuance: In contemporary Chinese, the phrase sounds somewhat archaic and grand. It is frequently used in Wuxia (martial arts) novels and historical fantasy games to describe the 'strongest under heaven' or legendary artifacts.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

天下无双 (tiān xià wú shuāng) is a grand expression of praise for someone or something that is truly unique. Historically used for legendary heroes, world-class beauties, or national treasures, it carries a dramatic and epic tone. In modern English contexts, it is best understood as being 'one of a kind' or 'unrivaled,' and is frequently seen in literature, historical dramas, and games to denote the absolute best.

Idiom Essay

tiān xià wú shuāng
天下无双
Matchless Under Heaven
zàizhè ge这个shì jiè世界shànghěnduōdōng xī东西dōushìkě yǐ可以fù zhì复制de

In this world, many things can be replicated.

gōng yè工业liú shuǐ xiàn流水线shàngshēng chǎn生产deshāng pǐn商品nǎ pà哪怕zàijīng zhì精致zǒng néng总能zhǎo dào找到yī mú yī yàng一模一样detì dài pǐn替代品

Goods produced on industrial assembly lines, no matter how exquisite, can always find an identical substitute.

shèn zhì甚至hěnduōshí hòu时候liánliú xíng流行deguān diǎn观点chuān yī穿衣defēng gé风格kàn qǐ lái看起来dōudà tóng xiǎo yì大同小异

Even many times, popular opinions and clothing styles look largely the same.

dàn shì但是ǒu ěr偶尔huìyǒunà me那么yī kè一刻huìyù dào遇到yī zhǒng一种jí wéi极为hǎn jiàn罕见decún zài存在

However, occasionally there is a moment when you encounter an extremely rare existence.

yě xǔ也许shìyī jiàn一件gǔ lǎo古老deyì shù pǐn艺术品quán shì jiè全世界zhǐshèng xià剩下zhèyī jiàn一件yě xǔ也许shìyí gè一个rénzhǎn xiàn展现chūdejīng rén惊人cái huá才华nà zhǒng那种fēng gé风格rú cǐ如此dú tè独特fān biàn翻遍lejì yì记忆zhǎo bú dào找不到rèn hé任何rénnéngxiāng bǐ相比

It might be an ancient work of art, with only one piece left in the world; or perhaps a person's amazing talent, a style so unique that you search your memory and cannot find anyone to compare with them.

zhōng wén中文yǒuyí gè一个fèn liàng分量hěnzhòngdechéng yǔ成语yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种jí zhì极致dexī quē稀缺gǎnjiàotiān xià wú shuāng天下无双

In Chinese, there is a very heavy idiom used to describe this extreme sense of scarcity, called 天下无双.

zhè ge这个dezì miàn字面yì si意思fēi cháng非常yǒuqì shì气势

The literal meaning of this term is very powerful.

tiān xià天下zhǐdeshìpǔ tiān zhī xià普天之下jiù shì就是zhěng gè整个shì jiè世界wú shuāng无双yì si意思shìméi yǒu没有dì èr gè第二个

天下 refers to everything under heaven, which is the whole world; 无双 means "there is no second."

qǐ lái起来lǐ jiě理解jiù shì就是zàizhè ge这个shì jiè世界shàngzhǎochūdì èr第二néngzhīxiāng bǐ相比de

Understood together, it means: in this world, you cannot find a second one that can compare to it.

qǐngzhù yì注意tiān xià wú shuāng天下无双wǒ men我们chángshuōdedì yì míng第一名tàiyī yàng一样

Please note that 天下无双 is not quite the same as the "number one" we often talk about.

dì yì míng第一名yì wèi zhe意味着dà jiā大家dōuzàitóng yī tiáo同一条sài dào赛道shàngbǐ sài比赛pǎozuìkuàishìdì yī第一

"Number one" implies that everyone is competing on the same track, and you run the fastest, so you are first.

dàntiān xià wú shuāng天下无双shèn zhì甚至xū yào需要bǐ sài比赛

But 天下无双 does not even require a competition.

yīn wèi因为tàitè bié特别letè bié特别dàoméi yǒu没有duì shǒu对手méi yǒu没有tóng lèi同类shìgū lì孤立cún zài存在de

Because it is so special, so special that there are no rivals and no peers; it exists in isolation.

gǔ rén古人cháng yòng常用zhè ge这个láixíng róng形容nà xiē那些zhēn zhèng真正jié chū杰出dedà jiāng jūn大将军huò zhě或者cái huá héng yì才华横溢deshī rén诗人

Ancient people often used this term to describe truly outstanding generals or brilliant poets.

érzàixiàn dài现代shēng huó生活zhōngwǒ men我们yòngshíwǎng wǎng往往dàizheyī zhǒng一种jīng tàn惊叹shèn zhì甚至shìyī zhǒng一种zhēn xī珍惜dexīn qíng心情

In modern life, when we use it, it often carries a sense of wonder or even a feeling of cherishing.

bǐ rú比如dāngkàn dào看到dà zì rán大自然mǒu chù某处guǐ fǔ shén gōng鬼斧神工defēng jǐng风景nà zhǒng那种zhèn hàn震撼ràngjué de觉得zǒu biàn走遍shì jiè世界wú fǎ无法zàikàn dào看到tóng yàng同样dehuà miàn画面huò zhě或者dāngyù dào遇到yí gè一个shēn kè深刻lǐ jiě理解depéng yǒu朋友nà zhǒng那种mò qì默契ràngjué de觉得zhè bèi zi这辈子kě néng可能zài yě再也bú dào不到dì èr gè第二个rénnéngzhè yàng这样dǒng

For example, when you see a masterpiece of nature's scenery, the shock makes you feel that you could travel the world and never see the same image again; or when you meet a friend who understands you deeply, the chemistry makes you feel that you might never meet another person in this lifetime who understands you like this.

zhè shí hòu这时候pǔ tōng普通dehěnhǎohuò zhě或者yōu xiù优秀yǐ jīng已经bù zú yǐ不足以biǎo dá表达degǎn shòu感受le

At this time, ordinary "very good" or "excellent" is no longer enough to express your feelings.

zhǐ yǒu只有tiān xià wú shuāng天下无双cái néng才能pèishàngzhèfèndú yī wú èr独一无二dezhòng liàng重量

Only 天下无双 is worthy of this unique weight.

suǒ yǐ所以zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语qí shí其实zàití xǐng提醒wǒ men我们zàizhè ge这个chōng mǎn充满lefù zhì pǐn复制品deshí dài时代rú guǒ如果yù dào遇到nà xiē那些wú fǎ无法bèitì dài替代derénhuòshì wù事物qǐngyí dìng一定hǎo hǎo好好zhēn xī珍惜

Therefore, this idiom is actually reminding us: in this era full of "replicas," if you encounter people or things that cannot be replaced, please cherish them.

yīn wèi因为jì rán既然shìwú shuāng无双yí dàn一旦cuò guò错过lejiùzhēn de真的méi yǒu没有le

Because since it is 无双, once missed, it is truly gone.

xià cì下次dāngmiàn duì面对mǒuyàngràngjué de觉得bù kě tì dài不可替代deshì wù事物shíkě yǐ可以zàixīn lǐ心里qīng qīng轻轻yòngshàngzhè ge这个

Next time, when you face something that makes you feel "irreplaceable," you can gently use this term in your heart.

bù jǐn jǐn不仅仅shìzàishuōzuì hǎo最好gèng shì更是zàishuōshìwéi yī唯一de

It is not just saying "the best," it is saying—you are the only one.

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