Chinese word

惊天动地

Pronunciation

Pinyinjīng tiān dòng dì

Meaning

  • idiomearth-shattering

Example

这件事的影响真是惊天动地。zhè jiàn shì de yíng xiǎng zhēn shì jīng tiān dòng dì

The impact of this event is truly earth-shattering.

Illustration for 惊天动地 (earth-shattering)

More examples

惊天动地的影响持续了多年。jīng tiān dòng dì de yíng xiǎng chí xù le duō nián

The earth-shattering impact lasted for years.

Core concept

An event or result whose force seems large enough to shake the whole world.

Common phrases

  • 惊天动地的影响jīng tiān dòng dì de yíng xiǎng

    earth-shattering impact

  • 惊天动地的事件jīng tiān dòng dì de shì jiàn

    earth-shattering event

Similar words

震天动地zhèn tiān dòng dì: Describes a powerful event or movement that makes a huge impression on many people.
惊世骇俗jīng shì hài sú: Describes an event so shocking that it challenges society's usual ideas and values.
震撼人心zhèn hàn rén xīn: Describes something that reaches people's hearts and strongly moves their emotions.

Definition in Chinese

形容影响或震撼极大，像惊动天地一样。xíng róng yíng xiǎng huò zhèn hàn jí dà xiàng jīng dòng tiān dì yí yàng

Word origin

惊天动地 (jīngtiāndòngdì, "startle heaven and move earth") uses a heaven-and-earth image for an effect far beyond ordinary scale.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this idiom suits major news, achievements, or public events, while using it for a small matter sounds deliberately exaggerated.

Other meanings

  • unprecedentedidiom
  • unparalleledidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word