惊天动地

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jīng tiān dòng dì
• English Translation: Earth-shattering, world-shaking, astonishing
• Idiom Composition: 「惊」（To shock, to astonish）＋「天」（Heaven, sky）＋「动」（To move, to shake）＋「地」（Earth, ground）
• Meaning: Describes something of tremendous magnitude or impact, so powerful it seems to shake heaven and earth. It is used to characterize major events or actions that cause great shock or deep emotion among people.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「惊天动地」 contains the following nuances:

• Overwhelming scale and influence: Refers to events that are not just large but possess an overwhelming scale and influence that figuratively shake heaven and earth.
• Strong impact and emotion: Describes events or actions that deliver a strong shock and evoke deep emotional responses in people.
• Historical significance: Often used to describe significant events that leave a mark in history or bring about major social changes.
• Magnificence: Suitable for expressing grand and dramatic events or actions.

3. Usage

「惊天动地」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing major events: Used to describe large-scale events such as historical incidents, natural disasters, or great achievements.
  • Example:「这次惊天动地的地震，给当地人民带来了巨大的灾难。」
    （This earth-shattering earthquake brought great disaster to the local people.）
• Praising great achievements: Used to praise people's great achievements such as scientific discoveries, artistic creations, or social reforms.
  • Example:「他惊天动地的发明，彻底改变了人们的生活方式。」
    （His world-shaking invention completely changed people's way of life.）
• Expressing moving stories: Used to express stories that move people's hearts, such as heroic deeds, touching tales, or grand romances.
  • Example:「这是一个惊天动地的爱情故事，感动了无数人。」
    （This is an earth-shaking love story that moved countless people.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这场惊天动地的革命，推翻了旧的统治，建立了新的秩序。
   （This earth-shattering revolution overthrew the old regime and established a new order.）
2. 他的演讲具有惊天动地的力量，激发了人们的斗志。
   （His speech had an earth-shaking power that inspired people's fighting spirit.）
3. 这部电影讲述了一个惊天动地的故事，让观众们热泪盈眶。
   （This movie tells an earth-shattering story that brought the audience to tears.）
4. 科学家们取得的惊天动地的突破，为人类的未来开辟了新的道路。
   （The world-shaking breakthroughs made by scientists have opened new paths for humanity's future.）
5. 这位艺术家的作品具有惊天动地的艺术魅力，震撼了整个艺术界。
   （This artist's works possess an earth-shaking artistic charm that shocked the entire art world.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Grand worldview in Chinese culture: '惊天动地' reflects the grand Chinese worldview by contrasting heaven and earth and expressing something that shakes both.
• Exaggeration: Since it is used to describe extremely significant events or actions, using it for everyday matters may sound exaggerated.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 石破天惊 (shí pò tiān jīng): To astonish people with sudden events or novel statements.
  • 震古烁今 (zhèn gǔ shuò jīn): To have a wide-ranging impact from ancient times to the present.
  • 翻天覆地 (fān tiān fù dì): A great change as if heaven and earth were turned upside down.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary and unremarkable.
  • 默默无闻 (mò mò wú wén): Unknown and unheard of.

6. Summary

'惊天动地' is a grand and powerful expression used to describe events or actions that are so significant they seem to shake heaven and earth, causing strong impact and emotion. Using this idiom effectively conveys the magnitude, influence, and emotional effect of an event. However, since it is often an exaggeration, it should be used carefully and appropriately according to the context.