Chinese word

前所未有

Pronunciation

Pinyinqián suǒ wèi yǒu

Meaning

  • idiomunprecedented

Example

这样的机会真是前所未有。zhè yàng de jī huì zhēn shì qián suǒ wèi yǒu

Such an opportunity is truly unprecedented.

Illustration for 前所未有 (unprecedented)

More examples

这次改革带来了前所未有的影响。zhè cì gǎi gé dài lái le qián suǒ wèi yǒu de yíng xiǎng

This reform has had an unprecedented impact.

Core concept

A new frontier where no earlier case provides a comparison.

Common phrases

  • 前所未有的机会qián suǒ wèi yǒu de jī huì

    unprecedented opportunity

  • 前所未有的挑战qián suǒ wèi yǒu de tiǎo zhàn

    unprecedented challenge

  • 前所未有的影响qián suǒ wèi yǒu de yíng xiǎng

    unprecedented impact

Similar words

史无前例shǐ wú qián lì: Describing a historical event or situation that has no previous precedent.
空前绝后kōng qián jué hòu: Describing something rare and important that stands without precedent or equal.
前无古人qián wú gǔ rén: Describing a pioneering achievement or situation unknown to people in earlier times.
前所未见qián suǒ wèi jiàn: Describing something never previously observed, with no comparable case.

Definition in Chinese

用来形容某事物或情况前所未见，具有空前性或无先例的特点。yòng lái xíng róng mǒu shì wù huò qíng kuàng qián suǒ wèi jiàn jù yǒu kōng qián xìng huò wú xiān lì de tè diǎn

Word origin

The four-character idiom is formed from 前 (qián, "before") + 所 (suǒ, "that which") + 未 (wèi, "not yet") + 有 (yǒu, "exist"), describing what did not exist before.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it can follow 真是 (zhēnshì, "really is") to comment on a whole situation, or come before 的 (de, "structural particle") and a noun.

Other meanings

  • unparalleledidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word