← IDIOMS · TIME
HSK 6
kōng空emptyqián前beforejué绝severhòu后after
Unprecedented and unrepeatable; the first and the last; unparalleled.

Literal meaning

empty (空) — before (前) — sever (绝) — after (后)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase indicating something is unique in history.

Examples

Zhè这cì次zhǎn展lǎn览de的guī规mó模kōng空qián前jué绝hòu后。
The scale of this exhibition is unprecedented.
Tā他de的chéng成jiù就kōng空qián前jué绝hòu后,wú无rén人néng能jí及。
His achievements are unparalleled, and no one can match them.

Usage & nuances

Often used to describe something that is unique and unlikely to be repeated.

Learn idioms by speaking them

Idioms are most useful when they land in a real conversation. Practice them out loud in Kango — get instant feedback on tone and timing.

Download Kango on iOS