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 & perseverance.
Also searched as: po tian huang, po tian huang,破天荒 meaning, 破天荒 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: For the first time ever, she won the championship.
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
匠心独运
jiàng xīn dú yùn
Apply creative genius; show ingenuity
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独具匠心
dú jù jiàng xīn
Show great ingenuity; have original design
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别具一格
bié jù yī gé
Have unique style; be distinctive
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独树一帜
dú shù yī zhì
Be unique; have distinctive style
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独占鳌头
dú zhàn áo tóu
Come first; win top honors
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出神入化
chū shén rù huà
Reach supernatural skill level
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功成名就
gōng chéng míng jiù
Achieve success and fame
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名利双收
míng lì shuāng shōu
Gain both fame and fortune
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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 theSuccess & 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”.