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HSK 7-9
kāiopentiānheavencreateearth
To create the heavens and the earth; to start something unprecedented; epoch-making.

Literal meaning

open (开) — heaven (天) — create (辟) — earth (地)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase referring to the creation of the world in Chinese mythology.

Examples

Zhèxiàngshùshìxiàngkāitiāndechuàngxīn
This technology is an epoch-making innovation.
deyánjiūkāitiānwèixuézhǎnzuòchūlegòngxiàn
His research was unprecedented and made a huge contribution to the development of science.

Usage & nuances

Describes something groundbreaking and revolutionary.

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