cin4 mou4 gu2 jan4前無古人前无古人

Jyutpingcin4 mou4 gu2 jan4

Yalechìhn mòuh gú yàhn

語句

Definition

Unprecedented and pioneering; so innovative or breakthrough that nobody has ever thought of or done it before.

neutraldescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is almost always paired with 後無來者 to emphasize that something is not only unique in the past but will likely never be surpassed in the future. It carries a strong sense of admiration for a singular, monumental achievement. While it can be used for inventions or artistic works, it is also frequently applied to sports records or extraordinary personal feats.

Examples

keoi5佢ni1呢go3個faat3發ming4明zan1真hai6係cin4前mou4無gu2古jan4人aa4呀。

His invention is truly unprecedented.

jau5有bin1邊go3個ho2可ji5以zou6做dou3到cin4前mou4無gu2古jan4人le1呢？

Who could possibly achieve something unprecedented?

Common phrases

cin4前mou4無gu2古jan4人，hau6後mou4無loi4來ze2者

unprecedented and unsurpassed

Common mistake

Do not treat this as a simple adjective for anything new or different. It is reserved for truly groundbreaking, once in a lifetime events, so using it for minor daily occurrences will sound sarcastic or overly dramatic.