石破天惊 shí pò tiān jīng Shattering the sky, startling the world

Explanation

石破天惊，形容声音或事物出人意料，极其惊人，有震撼人心的力量。原本形容箜篌的声音，忽而高亢，忽而低沉，出人意外，有能以形容的奇境。后多比喻文章议论新奇惊人，或事物发展变化出人意料，也形容使人感到非常震惊和意外。

The idiom 'Shi Po Tian Jing' describes a sound or an event that is unexpected, extremely shocking, and has the power to move people's hearts. Originally, it described the sound of a kónghóu, which alternated between high and low pitches, unexpected and conveyed a unique atmosphere. Later, it was often used to describe a novel and astonishing argumentation or an unexpected event, or it can be used to express a strong surprise and disbelief.

Origin Story

唐朝诗人李贺写了一首名为《李凭箜篌引》的诗，其中描写了音乐家李凭弹奏箜篌的场景。诗中写道：“女娲炼石补天处，石破天惊逗秋雨。”意思是说，女娲用石头补天的时候，石破天惊，震动了天地，惊动了秋雨。这首诗就是用“石破天惊”这个词来形容箜篌的声音，它的声音忽高忽低，变化无常，令人惊叹不已。

táng cháo shī rén lǐ hè xiě le yī shǒu míng wéi 《lǐ píng kōng hóu yǐn》 de shī, qí zhōng miáo xiě le yīn yuè jiā lǐ píng tán zòu kōng hóu de chǎng jǐng. shī zhōng xiě dào: "nǚ wā liàn shí bǔ tiān chù, shí pò tiān jīng dòu qiū yǔ." yì sī shì shuō, nǚ wā yòng shí tou bǔ tiān de shí hòu, shí pò tiān jīng, zhèn dòng le tiān dì, jīng dòng le qiū yǔ. zhè shǒu shī jiù shì yòng "shí pò tiān jīng" zhège cí lái xíng róng kōng hóu de shēng yīn, tā de shēng yīn hū gāo hū dī, biàn huà wú cháng, lìng rén jīng tàn bù yǐ.

Li He, a poet of the Tang dynasty, wrote a poem called “Li Ping Kong Hou Yin”, which describes the scene of musician Li Ping playing the kónghóu. The poem says: "Nu Wa made stones to mend the sky, and the stones shattered the sky and startled the autumn rain." It means that when Nu Wa used stones to mend the sky, the stones shattered the sky and shook the earth, startling the autumn rain. This poem uses the word "Shi Po Tian Jing" to describe the sound of the kónghóu, which is high and low, unpredictable, and amazing.

Usage

石破天惊常用来形容事物发展变化出人意料，令人震惊；也用来形容文章议论新奇惊人，或事物发展变化出人意料。

shí pò tiān jīng cháng yòng lái xíng róng shì wù fā zhǎn biàn huà chū rén yì liào, lìng rén zhèn jīng; yě yòng lái xíng róng wén zhāng yì lùn xīn qí jīng rén, huò shì wù fā zhǎn biàn huà chū rén yì liào.

The idiom 'Shi Po Tian Jing' is often used to describe things that develop or change unexpectedly, shocking people. It is also used to describe an argument that is novel and astonishing, or that an event happens unexpectedly.

Examples

• 他的演讲石破天惊，引起了全场轰动。

  tā de yǎn jiǎng shí pò tiān jīng, yǐn qǐ le quán chǎng hōng dòng.

  His speech was a revelation, causing a sensation in the whole hall.

• 这个新方案石破天惊，彻底改变了我们的工作方式。

  zhège xīn fāng ān shí pò tiān jīng, chè dǐ gǎi biàn le wǒ men de gōng zuò fāng shì.

  This new plan is revolutionary and completely changes our way of working.

• 这首诗的意境石破天惊，令人叹为观止。

  zhè shǒu shī de yì jìng shí pò tiān jīng, lìng rén tàn wéi guān zhǐ.

  The artistic conception of this poem is breathtaking and amazing.

Related Idioms

• 惊天动地

• 天翻地覆

• 振聋发聩

Opposite Idioms

• 默默无闻

• 悄无声息