破天荒 (pò tiān huāng) — unprecedented; epoch-making; first of its kind
Definition
A set phrase meaning something has never happened before — a first, once-unthinkable event finally occurring. Only used for genuinely surprising firsts; not interchangeable with 史无前例, which leans toward historical or grand-scale events.
adjective
unprecedentedepoch-makingfirst of its kind
Examples
- 破天荒。Zhè shì pò tiān huāng de dì yī cì.This is an unprecedented first time.
- 破天荒。Tā pò tiān huāng dì wán chéng le zhè jiàn bù kě néng de shì.He unprecedentedly accomplished this impossible task.
- 破天荒。Zhè jiā gōng sī pò tiān huāng dì tuī chū le miǎn fèi de chǎn pǐn.This company unprecedentedly launched a free product.
Origin
Compound word构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object
An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.
破 suggests breaking, and 天荒 evokes barren, untouched land; the image is breaking new ground, hence unprecedented.
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