Chinese word

开天辟地

Pronunciation

Pinyinkāi tiān pì dì

Meaning

  • idiomgroundbreaking

Example

这项发明真是开天辟地。zhè xiàng fā míng zhēn shì kāi tiān pì dì

This invention is truly groundbreaking.

Illustration for 开天辟地 (groundbreaking)

More examples

这项研究提出了开天辟地的理论，改变了整个学科的方向。zhè xiàng yán jiū tí chū le kāi tiān pì dì de lǐ lùn gǎi biàn le zhěng gè xué kē de fāng xiàng

This study proposed a groundbreaking theory that changed the direction of the entire field.

Core concept

A breakthrough that opens a new era and changes what was possible.

Common phrases

  • 开天辟地的理论kāi tiān pì dì de lǐ lùn

    groundbreaking theory

  • 开天辟地的成就kāi tiān pì dì de chéng jiù

    groundbreaking achievement

  • 开天辟地的影响kāi tiān pì dì de yíng xiǎng

    groundbreaking impact

Similar words

划时代huà shí dài: Describes a historic breakthrough that changes the course of history and begins a new era.
史无前例shǐ wú qián lì: Describes an event with no earlier example in history.
空前绝后kōng qián jué hòu: Describes something extraordinarily rare and important, with no equal in the past or future.
破天荒pò tiān huāng: Describes doing something for the first time when nobody has done it before.

Definition in Chinese

形容事物具有突破性的创新，首次出现并改变旧有局面。xíng róng shì wù jù yǒu tū pò xìng de chuàng xīn shǒu cì chū xiàn bìng gǎi biàn jiù yǒu jú miàn

Word origin

开天辟地 (kāitiānpìdì, "to open heaven and split earth") comes from the myth of Pangu separating heaven and earth from primordial chaos, so it now describes a breakthrough that creates a new beginning.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this expression usually suits a major invention or reform; applying it to a small improvement can sound like exaggerated advertising.

Other meanings

  • pioneeringidiom
  • revolutionaryidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word