破天荒
破天荒 (pò tiān huāng) literally means “breaking heaven's wasteland” and expresses “for the first time ever; unprecedented”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: po tian huang, po tian huang,破天荒 meaning, 破天荒 in english
For the first time ever; unprecedented
Pronunciation: pò tiān huāng Literal meaning: Breaking heaven's wasteland
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes breaking (破) through heaven's (天) wasteland (荒). It originates from Tang Dynasty examination history when the Jingzhou region, long considered intellectually barren, finally produced a successful examination candidate, 'breaking' its record of failure. The phrase marks unprecedented first achievements. Modern usage describes doing something for the very first time, particularly achievements that break established patterns or expectations.
Examples
English: "For the first time ever, she won the championship."
Chinese: 她破天荒地赢得了冠军。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
Learn more →
百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
Learn more →
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
Learn more →
门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
Extremely popular
Learn more →
天道酬勤
tiān dào chóu qín
Heaven rewards diligence
Learn more →
破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
Commit with no retreat
Learn more →
塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
Learn more →
守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīn
Value time preciously
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 破天荒 mean in English?
破天荒 (pò tiān huāng) literally translates to “Breaking heaven's wasteland” and is used to express “For the first time ever; unprecedented”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 破天荒 used?
Situation: For the first time ever, she won the championship.
What is the pinyin for 破天荒?
The pinyin pronunciation for 破天荒 is “pò tiān huāng”.