开天辟地
*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.
Do you know how the idiom "The Creation of Heaven and Earth" came about?
In ancient China, there was a very famous mythological story.
A long, long time ago, heaven and earth had not yet separated, and the world was full of darkness and chaos.
At that time, a person named Pangu appeared.
Pangu slept in the darkness for a very long time.
One day, he woke up and found himself trapped inside a big "egg."
He pushed hard, and the "eggshell" cracked open; one part became the sky, and the other part became the earth.
Pangu stood between heaven and earth, pushing the sky upward and pressing the earth downward every day.
After eighteen thousand years, heaven and earth finally separated, and the world became bright.
People say this is the story of Pangu "creating heaven and earth."
The original meaning of the idiom "The Creation of Heaven and Earth" is like Pangu, separating heaven and earth and creating the world.
Later, people used it to describe doing something very great for the first time, something no one had ever done before.
For example, a new invention or a major reform can be called "The Creation of Heaven and Earth."
In our lives, there are also many "Creation of Heaven and Earth" moments.
For example, learning to ride a bicycle for the first time or traveling to a strange place for the first time—these are new beginnings for us, just like "The Creation of Heaven and Earth."
Have you ever experienced your own "Creation of Heaven and Earth"?
When you face new challenges, why not think about Pangu's story? Maybe you will find the courage to create your own world.
1. Basic Information
- Pinyin: kāi tiān pì dì
- English Translation: To create heaven and earth; to do something unprecedented; to start something entirely new
- Idiom Composition: 「开」(To open, to create)+「天」(Heaven, sky)+「辟」(To open, to split)+「地」(Earth, ground)
- Meaning: Originally means to open up heaven and earth. It has come to mean accomplishing unprecedented great achievements or pioneering entirely new situations.
2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances
「开天辟地」 contains the following nuances:
- Unprecedented achievement: Refers to starting something completely new that no one has achieved before.
- Creation and transformation: Signifies major transformation or progress that creates a new world or era.
- Magnificence: Used to describe events of great scale and historical significance.
- Strong praise: Carries a very strong positive connotation and is used to praise great achievements.
3. Usage
「开天辟地」 is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Historical events: Used to describe major events that mark history, such as the founding of a nation, revolutions, or reforms.
- Example:「中华人民共和国的成立,是开天辟地的大事。」
(The founding of the People's Republic of China was a groundbreaking event.)
- Example:「中华人民共和国的成立,是开天辟地的大事。」
- Scientific and technological progress: Used to refer to major advances in science and technology, such as new inventions or discoveries.
- Example:「这项技术突破,在人工智能领域具有开天辟地的意义。」
(This technological breakthrough has a revolutionary significance in the field of artificial intelligence.)
- Example:「这项技术突破,在人工智能领域具有开天辟地的意义。」
- Innovation in art and culture: Used to describe the beginning of new artistic movements or cultural paradigm shifts.
- Example:「这部电影的上映,标志着中国电影新时代的开天辟地。」
(The release of this film marks a groundbreaking new era in Chinese cinema.)
- Example:「这部电影的上映,标志着中国电影新时代的开天辟地。」
Additional Examples:
- 改革开放政策,是中国历史上开天辟地的大事件。
(The reform and opening-up policy was a revolutionary event in Chinese history.) - 他的这项发明,在医学领域具有开天辟地的意义。
(His invention has a groundbreaking significance in the field of medicine.) - 这位艺术家的作品,为当代艺术开辟了开天辟地的新境界。
(This artist's work has opened a revolutionary new frontier in contemporary art.) - 这次会议的召开,标志着两国关系进入了开天辟地的新阶段。
(The convening of this meeting marks a completely new stage in the relations between the two countries.) - 互联网的出现,为人类社会带来了开天辟地的变化。
(The emergence of the internet has brought revolutionary changes to human society.)
4. Cultural Background and Notes
- '开天辟地' originates from the ancient Chinese myth of Pangu creating heaven and earth. According to the myth, the giant Pangu separated the chaos to form the world, symbolizing creation and transformation in Chinese culture.
- It is a relatively formal expression and is rarely used in everyday conversation.
5. Similar and Opposite Idioms
- Similar Idioms:
- 翻天覆地 (fān tiān fù dì): A tremendous change that overturns heaven and earth.
- 石破天惊 (shí pò tiān jīng): Something astonishing that shocks the world.
- Opposite Idioms:
- 因循守旧 (yīn xún shǒu jiù): Sticking to old ways and refusing to change.
- 固步自封 (gù bù zì fēng): Being self-enclosed and unwilling to make progress.
6. Summary
'开天辟地' is an idiom derived from a grand Chinese creation myth, symbolizing unprecedented achievements and the beginning of a completely new era. It is used to express historical turning points or great creations that go beyond mere change or progress. Due to its grandeur and strong positive connotation, this idiom is considered one of the highest praises in the Chinese language.