古今中外

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: gǔ jīn zhōng wài
• English Translation: Ancient and modern, China and abroad; at all times and in all countries.
• Idiom Composition: 「古」（ancient, olden times）＋「今」（present, modern times）＋「中」（China）＋「外」（foreign, outside）
• Meaning: Refers to a very wide range, both temporally and spatially, encompassing all times and places. It is used to emphasize universality or generality.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「古今中外」 contains the following nuances:

• Temporal Breadth: Encompasses a long timeline extending from the past to the present, and into the future.
• Spatial Breadth: Refers to a vast space that includes not only China but also various countries around the world, the entire Earth, and even the universe.
• Universality: Used to express universal truths or phenomena that apply across all times and places, not limited to specific eras or regions.
• Inclusiveness: A concept that broadly encompasses diverse cultures, values, and ideas.

3. Usage

「古今中外」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Emphasis on Universal Truths and Phenomena: Used to describe matters that are common across all times and places.
  • Example:「古今中外，人们对和平の渴望从未改变。」
    （Throughout history and across the world, people's yearning for peace has never changed.）
• Description of Wide-Ranging Events: Used to describe matters spanning many eras and regions.
  • Example:「古今中外的文学作品都反映了当时的社会現実。」
    （Literary works from all times and places reflect the social realities of their time.）
• Comparison and Contrast: Used when comparing and contrasting cultures, ideas, and values from different eras and regions.
  • Example:「我们可以通过研究古今中外的歴史，来更好地理解当前的国際情勢。」
    （By studying history from ancient to modern times, both Chinese and foreign, we can better understand the current international situation.）

Additional Examples:

1. 古今中外，音楽都是人類表达情感的重要方式。
   （Throughout history and across the world, music has been an important way for humans to express emotions.）
2. 无论古今中外，教育都被视为国家发展的基石。
   （Regardless of time or place, education is considered the cornerstone of national development.）
3. 这个问题在古今中外的哲学著作中都有所探讨。
   （This issue has been discussed in philosophical works from ancient to modern times, both Chinese and foreign.）
4. 古今中外，许多伟大的発明都源于对未知的好奇心。
   （Throughout history and across the world, many great inventions have stemmed from curiosity about the unknown.）
5. 我们可以从古今中外的芸術作品中，感受到人類对美的追求。
   （We can perceive humanity's pursuit of beauty in artworks from ancient to modern times, both Chinese and foreign.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Sino-centric worldview: "古今中外" originally included the contrast between "中" (China) and "外" (foreign), reflecting a Sino-centric worldview. However, in modern times, this connotation has faded, and it is generally used to simply mean "all places."
• Emphasis on universality: This idiom is used to emphasize universality within diversity, rather than absolutizing specific cultures or values.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 包罗万象 (bāo luó wàn xiàng): Encompassing everything, covering all things.
  • 横贯古今 (héng guàn gǔ jīn): Spanning ancient and modern times, transcending eras.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 独树一帜 (dú shù yí zhì): Unique, having originality.

6. Summary

"古今中外" is an idiom used to express the breadth of time and space, emphasizing universality and inclusiveness. By using this term, one can view things from a broader perspective, not limited to specific eras or regions. It can also be an effective expression for respecting diverse cultures and values and finding common ground.