10 Chinese Idioms About Innovation & Technology
Ancient Chinese idioms surprisingly relevant to modern technology, startups, and innovation culture.
Ancient Chinese wisdom meets modern innovation. These idioms about creating new things, breaking boundaries, and transforming the world are surprisingly relevant to today's tech and startup culture.
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rénSudden, remarkable success
Literal: Bird cry that startles all
This idiom emerged during the Han Dynasty in scholarly discourse about late-blooming talent. The image of a seemingly ordinary bird (鸣, cry) suddenly producing an extraordinary song that startles (惊) everyone (人) was inspired by the story of a rural scholar who, after years of obscurity, stunned the...
Example
After years of quiet preparation, his novel became an overnight sensation
经过多年默默准备，他的小说一夜成名
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèngReturn to righteousness
Literal: Turn from wrong return to right
Emerging from Buddhist texts during the Eastern Han Dynasty, this idiom describes the journey of turning away (改) from wrong (邪) to return (归) to righteousness (正). The metaphor draws from astronomical observations where wandering stars return to their proper paths. It gained prominence during the T...
Example
After the scandal, the company implemented strict ethical guidelines
在丑闻之后，公司实施了严格的道德准则
物极必反
wù jí bì fǎnExtremes lead to reversal
Literal: Things at extreme reverse
This idiom captures a fundamental principle of Chinese philosophy: when things (物) reach their extreme (极), they inevitably (必) reverse (反). First articulated in the I Ching, it reflects observations of natural cycles like the changing seasons. During the Warring States period, strategists applied t...
Example
After the market peaked, a correction was inevitable
市场达到顶峰后，调整是不可避免的
四面楚歌
sì miàn chǔ gēSurrounded by hostility
Literal: Chu songs from four sides
This poignant idiom originates from the final battle of Xiang Yu in 202 BCE. Surrounded by Han forces at Gaixia, Xiang Yu heard songs (歌) from his homeland of Chu being sung from all four sides (四面), indicating his own people had surrendered to Liu Bang. The psychological warfare strategy proved dev...
Example
The small company found itself facing competition from all sides
这家小公司发现自己四面受敌
事半功倍
shì bàn gōng bèiLess effort, better results
Literal: Half effort double result
This mathematical idiom describes situations where half (半) the effort (事) yields double (倍) the result (功). First appearing in Han Dynasty agricultural texts, it originally described efficient farming techniques that maximized yield while minimizing labor. The concept gained broader application dur...
Example
Using the new software doubled her productivity
使用新软件使她的工作效率提高了一倍
时来运转
shí lái yùn zhuǎnFortune's wheel will turn.
Literal: Time comes and fortune turns
This optimistic idiom describes the moment when time arrives (时来) and fortune turns (运转). It emerged from the practice of divination during the Zhou Dynasty, where fortune was seen as cyclical rather than fixed. The concept gained particular resonance during the Tang Dynasty, as stories spread of sc...
Example
After years of struggle, his business finally found its market opportunity
经过多年的奋斗，他的企业终于找到了市场机会
推陈出新
tuī chén chū xīnCreate new from old
Literal: Push old produce new
Originating in the Classic of Changes (I Ching), this phrase combines the actions of pushing away (推) the old or stale (陈) to bring forth (出) the new (新). During the Spring and Autumn period, it became a principle of scholarly innovation - respecting traditional knowledge while advancing new interpr...
Example
The designer combined traditional elements with modern technology
设计师将传统元素与现代技术相结合
厚积薄发
hòu jī bó fāSuccess after long preparation
Literal: Thick accumulation thin launch
This idiom compares patient accumulation (积) of deep (厚) knowledge with the eventual release (发) that requires minimal (薄) effort. It emerged during the Tang Dynasty literary circles, where scholars emphasized sustained preparation over hasty creation. Historical accounts describe how poet Du Fu spe...
Example
After years of quiet research, her breakthrough theory revolutionized the field
经过多年的默默研究，她的突破性理论彻底革新了这个领域
承前启后
chéng qián qǐ hòuLinking tradition with innovation
Literal: Receive past, initiate future
First appearing in Song Dynasty scholarly texts, this idiom describes receiving (承) what came before (前) while initiating (启) what follows (后). It gained prominence during the Neo-Confucian revival, where thinkers sought to adapt classical wisdom to contemporary challenges. The phrase perfectly capt...
Example
The architect's design brilliantly incorporated historical elements while introducing modern functionality
这位建筑师的设计巧妙地融合了历史元素，同时引入了现代功能
日新月异
rì xīn yuè yìChanging rapidly; improving daily
Literal: Day new month different
This idiom describes being new (新) every day (日) and different (异) every month (月). It captures rapid, continuous change and progress. The phrase echoes the Confucian classic 'Great Learning,' which advocates constant self-renewal. Originally about moral cultivation, it evolved to describe any field...
Example
Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace.
科技发展日新月异。
Quick Reference
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