前不见古人，后不见来者 — “Unprecedented”
前不见古人，后不见来者 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Unprecedented”. Peerless; feeling profoundly alone in one's unique predicament or unmatched talent, often with a sense of melancholy for lack of kindred spirits or successors. Literally, “Before me, no ancients are seen; behind me, no successors are seen”.
前不见古人，后不见来者 Pronunciation and Pinyin
前不见古人，后不见来者 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 前不见古人，后不见来者
Origin and Story of 前不见古人，后不见来者
During the Tang Dynasty, Chen Zi'ang, a highly talented and renowned literary figure, gained the appreciation of Empress Wu Zetian, who appointed him as a military advisor. However, he faced ostracism from General Wu Youyi.
While stationed in the Yan region, he climbed the ancient Youzhou Terrace. As he gazed upon the vast landscape, he recalled the story of King Zhao of Yan, who in ancient times eagerly sought and valued talented generals like Yue Yi.
Overwhelmed by a sense of being misunderstood and ahead of his time, and lamenting the lack of wise rulers who truly appreciated talent in his era, he penned the famous lines: 'Before me, no ancients are seen; behind me, no successors are seen. I think of the vastness of heaven and earth, and my heart aches with melancholy, tears falling.'
Idioms Related to 前不见古人，后不见来者
Synonyms of 前不见古人，后不见来者
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
- qián前yǎng仰hòu后hé合rock back and forth with laughter
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Open the tool →Questions about 前不见古人，后不见来者
What does 前不见古人，后不见来者 mean?
前不见古人，后不见来者 (qián bù jiàn gǔ rén ， hòu bù jiàn lái zhě) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Unprecedented”.
How do you pronounce 前不见古人，后不见来者?
前不见古人，后不见来者 is pronounced qián bù jiàn gǔ rén ， hòu bù jiàn lái zhě in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 前不见古人，后不见来者 literally mean?
Literally, 前不见古人，后不见来者 means “Before me, no ancients are seen; behind me, no successors are seen”. It is used to mean “Unprecedented”.
Where does 前不见古人，后不见来者 come from?
前不见古人，后不见来者 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 前不见古人，后不见来者?
指空前绝后。亦用作讽刺。