史无前例

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: shǐ wú qián lì
• English Translation: Unprecedented in history, unparalleled, without precedent
• Idiom Composition: 「史」（history）＋「无」（none, without）＋「前」（before, previous）＋「例」（example, precedent）
• Meaning: Having no precedent in history. Refers to completely new events or situations that have never occurred before.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「史无前例」 contains the following nuances:

• Novelty: Emphasizes that it is a new phenomenon or concept that has never existed before.
• Groundbreaking: Suggests an innovative event that greatly changes existing norms and frameworks.
• Significance: Implies an event of great influence that serves as a historical turning point.

3. Usage

「史无前例」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Evaluating events: Used when evaluating historically first-time or extremely rare events.
  • Example:「这次的发现，在科学史上是史无前例的。」
    （This discovery is unprecedented in the history of science.）
• Emphasizing scale or degree: Used to emphasize when the scale or degree of a phenomenon is so large that it has never been seen before.
  • Example:「这场灾难造成的损失史无前例。」
    （The damage caused by this disaster is unprecedented.）
• Breaking records: Used to express achievements such as new records or great feats that surpass past records.
  • Example:「他取得的成就，在体育界史无前例。」
    （The achievements he has made are unprecedented in the sports world.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这次改革的力度之大，史无前例。
   （The thoroughness of this reform is unprecedented.）
2. 这项技术的应用，将带来史无前例的变革。
   （The application of this technology will bring about unprecedented change.）
3. 面对史无前例的挑战，我们需要拿出勇气和智慧。
   （Faced with unprecedented challenges, we need to demonstrate courage and wisdom.）
4. 这部电影的票房收入，创造了史无前例的纪录。
   （The box office revenue of this film set an unprecedented record.）
5. 他的这一举动，可谓史无前例，震惊了所有人。
   （His action was truly unprecedented and shocked everyone.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Importance of history: In Chinese culture, history serves as a 'mirror' that plays an important role in reflecting on the present and future. '史无前例' is an expression that arises from this cultural emphasis on valuing history.
• Hyperbolic expression: '史无前例' is sometimes used as a somewhat exaggerated expression. Whether an event is truly the first in history should be determined based on the context.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 空前绝后 (kōng qián jué hòu): So rare that there are no examples before or after.
  • 独树一帜 (dú shù yì zhì): To have a unique position or viewpoint.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 陈词滥调 (chén cí làn diào): Worn-out words or expressions.
  • 老生常谈 (lǎo shēng cháng tán): Old and commonplace talk that has been said for a long time.

6. Summary

'史无前例' is an idiom used to express completely new events or phenomena of unprecedented scale, rooted in the Chinese cultural emphasis on valuing history. When using this idiom, it is important to consider the context to determine whether the event is truly the first in history or simply an unusual occurrence.