惊天动地 — “Startling heaven, shaking earth”
惊天动地 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes something that is extraordinarily significant, spectacular, or sensational, causing a huge impact or sensation; earth-shattering; world-shaking; monumental”. Literally, “Startling heaven, shaking earth”.
惊天动地 Pronunciation and Pinyin
惊天动地 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 惊天动地
Origin and Story of 惊天动地
It is believed that individuals with the highest moral character and strongest capabilities should undertake tasks with tremendous momentum and become widely renowned. A person possessing noble ethics, lofty ideals, and exceptional skills ought to accomplish great, earth-shattering achievements.
During the Ming Dynasty, Lang Ying articulated in his work 'Qixiu Leigao' (七修类稿): 'When an imperial censor first arrives, their presence is described as 'startling heaven and shaking earth' (惊天动地); after a few months, it becomes 'confounding heaven and darkening earth' (错天黑地); and upon their departure, it is 'silent heaven and desolate earth' (寞天寂地).'
This anecdote illustrates the idiom's use to depict the initial, grand impact of an event or person, which may then diminish over time.
Idioms Related to 惊天动地
Synonyms of 惊天动地
Antonyms of 惊天动地
More idioms starting with 惊
- jīng惊shì世jué绝sú俗astonishingly unique and world-shaking
- jīng惊shì世zhèn震sú俗shockingly unconventional or outrageous
- jīng惊shì世hài骇sú俗shocking and unconventional
- jīng惊shì世hài骇mù目to startle the world and shock the eyes
- jīng惊rén人zhī之jǔ举an astonishing feat
- jīng惊tàn叹bù不yǐ已exclaim in great admiration
- jīng惊xǐ喜jiāo交jiā加overwhelmed with surprise and joy
- jīng惊xǐ喜jiāo交jí集mingled surprise and delight
- jīng惊xǐ喜cān参bàn半mixed feelings of surprise and joy
- jīng惊xǐ喜yù欲kuáng狂wild with joy and excitement
- jīng惊xǐ喜ruò若kuáng狂overwhelmed with joy and surprise
- jīng惊tiān天dì地qì泣guǐ鬼shén神awe-inspiring and monumental
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Open the tool →Questions about 惊天动地
What does 惊天动地 mean?
惊天动地 (jīng tiān dòng dì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes something that is extraordinarily significant, spectacular, or sensational, causing a huge impact or sensation; earth-shattering; world-shaking; monumental”.
How do you pronounce 惊天动地?
惊天动地 is pronounced jīng tiān dòng dì in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 惊天动地 literally mean?
Literally, 惊天动地 means “Startling heaven, shaking earth”. It is used to mean “describes something that is extraordinarily significant, spectacular, or sensational, causing a huge impact or sensation; earth-shattering; world-shaking; monumental”.
Where does 惊天动地 come from?
惊天动地 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 惊天动地?
惊：惊动；动：震撼。使天地惊动。形容某个事件的声势或意义极大。
