惊天动地

Pronunciation: jīng tiān dòng dì Literal meaning: Startle heaven shake earth

Origin & Usage

This idiom describes something so significant it startles (惊) heaven (天) and shakes (动) earth (地). The cosmic scale of the metaphor indicates events of tremendous magnitude. The phrase appeared in historical texts describing momentous battles, natural disasters, or political upheavals. It represents the highest degree of impact or importance. Modern usage describes groundbreaking achievements, major events, or anything with profound, far-reaching consequences.

Examples

English: "The discovery had a tremendous impact on the scientific community."

Chinese: 这一发现在科学界引起了惊天动地的影响。