博古通今
博古通今 (bó gǔ tōng jīn) literally means “know past and present” and expresses “wise and learned”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: bo gu tong jin, bo gu tong jin,博古通今 meaning, 博古通今 in english
Wise and learned
Pronunciation: bó gǔ tōng jīn Literal meaning: Know past and present
Origin & Usage
Wide in the ancient (博古) and versed in the present (通今). The Family Sayings of Confucius records Confucius saying it of Laozi, though in the older wording 博古知今, knowing the present rather than being versed in it. The compliment is about span rather than depth — someone who can hold the old and the current in the same head and see how one bears on the other. Chinese keeps a suspicion of the scholar who knows only antiquity, which is what gives the second half its weight. It belongs to formal praise, and it fits the historian or the commentator rather than the specialist.
Examples
English: "Her extensive knowledge makes her an expert in both historical and contemporary literature."
Chinese: 她博古通今，精通古今文学。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
一窍不通
yī qiào bù tōng
Completely ignorant
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人心不古
rén xīn bù gǔ
Moral decline
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博学多才
bó xué duō cái
Versatile and learned
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旁征博引
páng zhēng bó yǐn
Backing a case with wide-ranging citation
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博闻强记
bó wén qiáng jì
Knowledgeable and retentive
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Weigh it before you move
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 博古通今 mean in English?
博古通今 (bó gǔ tōng jīn) literally translates to “Know past and present” and is used to express “Wise and learned”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 博古通今 used?
Situation: Her extensive knowledge makes her an expert in both historical and contemporary literature.
What is the pinyin for 博古通今?
The pinyin pronunciation for 博古通今 is “bó gǔ tōng jīn”.