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.
Also searched as: qian suo wei you, qian suo wei you,前所未有 meaning, 前所未有 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: The technological breakthrough was unprecedented in human history.
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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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四海升平
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
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
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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 theLife Philosophy category..
When is 前所未有 used?
Situation: The technological breakthrough was unprecedented in human history.
What is the pinyin for 前所未有?
The pinyin pronunciation for 前所未有 is “qián suǒ wèi yǒu”.