前无古人 — “Unprecedented”
前无古人 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Unprecedented”. Unmatched in history; having no predecessor. Literally, “No one before”.
前无古人 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 前qián
- 无wú
- 古gǔ
- 人rén
前无古人 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 前无古人
Origin and Story of 前无古人
The idiom '前无古人' originates from a famous poem by Chen Zi'ang, a renowned literary figure of the Tang Dynasty.
Chen Zi'ang, who was admired by Empress Wu Zetian and served as a military advisor, faced ostracism from General Wu Youyi. During his time in the Yan region, he ascended the ancient Youzhou Terrace. Reflecting on the wise King Zhao of Yan and his valued general Yue Yi, Chen Zi'ang felt a profound sense of isolation.
He then composed the poignant poem: '前不见古人，后不见来者。念天地之悠悠，独怅然而涕下。' This translates to: 'I do not see the ancients before me, nor those who will come after me. Pondering the vastness of heaven and earth, I am left alone, sorrowful, with tears falling.'
The phrase '前不见古人' (literally 'do not see the ancients before') later evolved into the idiom '前无古人', signifying something unprecedented or unmatched in history.
Idioms Related to 前无古人
Synonyms of 前无古人
Antonyms of 前无古人
More idioms starting with 前
- qián前bù不bā巴cūn村，，hòu后bù不bā巴diàn店nowhere to go for help
- qián前bù不bā巴cūn村，，hòu后bù不zháo着diàn店stranded in the middle of nowhere
- qián前bù不zháo着cūn村，，hòu后bù不zháo着diàn店stranded without support
- qián前bù不jiàn见gǔ古rén人，，hòu后bù不jiàn见lái来zhě者unprecedented and peerless, profoundly alone
- qián前shì事bù不wàng忘，，hòu后shì事zhī之shī师Learn from the past to guide the future
- qián前rén人shī失jiǎo脚，，hòu后rén人bǎ把huá滑learn from others' mistakes
- qián前rén人zāi栽shù树，，hòu后rén人chéng乘liáng凉Later generations benefit from earlier efforts
- qián前rén人zhǒng种dé德hòu后rén人shōu收Later generations benefit from ancestors' virtues
- qián前rén人zhòng种shù树，，hòu后rén人chéng乘liáng凉Later generations benefit from previous efforts
- qián前pū仆hòu后jì继fall and follow in a continuous effort
- qián前pū仆hòu后qǐ起one falls, another rises
- qián前pú仆hòu后bó踣fall one after another
Questions about 前无古人
- What does 前无古人 mean?
- 前无古人 (qián wú gǔ rén) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Unprecedented”.
- How do you pronounce 前无古人?
- 前无古人 is pronounced qián wú gǔ rén in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 前无古人 literally mean?
- Literally, 前无古人 means “no one before”. It is used to mean “Unprecedented”.
- Where does 前无古人 come from?
- 前无古人 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 前无古人?
- 指以前的人从来没有做过的。也指空前的。