前所未有
前所未有 (qián suǒ wèi yǒu) literally means “before never having existed” and expresses “unprecedented; never seen before”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: qian suo wei you, qian suo wei you,前所未有 meaning, 前所未有 in english
Unprecedented; never seen before
Pronunciation: qián suǒ wèi yǒu
Literal meaning: Before never having existed
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes something that before (前) has never (未) existed (有). The phrase emphasizes absolute novelty - not just rare, but literally never before seen. It appeared in historical texts marking genuinely new developments that had no precedent. The idiom carries weight because it claims historical significance. Modern usage describes truly unprecedented events, achievements, or situations, though overuse has somewhat diluted its impact.
Examples
English: "The technological breakthrough was unprecedented in human history."
Chinese: 这项技术突破在人类历史上前所未有。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
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Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 前所未有 mean in English?
前所未有 (qián suǒ wèi yǒu) literally translates to “Before never having existed” and is used to express “Unprecedented; never seen before”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 前所未有 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving unprecedented; never seen before.
What is the pinyin for 前所未有?
The pinyin pronunciation for 前所未有 is “qián suǒ wèi yǒu”.