# 博古通今

bó gǔ tōng jīn

Have broad knowledge of both the past and present

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Know the ancient and understand the modern

**Register:** Literary · formal

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Praise extensive understanding across different periods.

It is strong praise for knowledge, not proof of expertise in every field.

## The image & its use

Knowing a historical fact is useful, but connecting it with present conditions requires another kind of understanding. This expression praises breadth across the past and the present. A guide may explain an old building's purpose and also show how people use the surrounding neighborhood today. The compliment is strongest when a speaker demonstrates those connections clearly. It does not mean that the person knows everything. Even a broadly knowledgeable expert may need to check a detail or defer to a specialist.

## Examples

这位导游博古通今，把城市的变化讲得很清楚。

### Traditional Chinese

這位導遊博古通今，把城市的變化講得很清楚。

zhè wèi dǎo yóu bó gǔ tōng jīn ， bǎ chéng shì de biàn huà jiǎng dé hěn qīng chǔ 。

The guide connected past and present with broad knowledge and clarity.

老师博古通今，常用历史例子解释今天的习惯。

### Traditional Chinese

老師博古通今，常用歷史例子解釋今天的習慣。

lǎo shī bó gǔ tōng jīn ， cháng yòng lì shǐ lì zǐ jiě shì jīn tiān de xí guàn 。

The teacher uses broad historical and modern knowledge to explain today's customs.

他希望通过长期阅读，逐渐做到博古通今。

### Traditional Chinese

他希望通過長期閱讀，逐漸做到博古通今。

tā xī wàng tōng guò cháng qī yuè dú ， zhú jiàn zuò dào bó gǔ tōng jīn 。

He hopes sustained reading will help him understand both past and present.

这本书展现了作者博古通今的学识。

### Traditional Chinese

這本書展現了作者博古通今的學識。

zhè běn shū zhǎn xiàn le zuò zhě bó gǔ tōng jīn de xué shí 。

The book displays the author's wide knowledge of past and present.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1243&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%8D%9A%E5%8F%A4%E9%80%9A%E4%BB%8A)

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- [不耻下问 bù chǐ xià wèn Learn without embarrassment from those ranked below ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-chi-xia-wen)

- [不得要领 bù dé yào lǐng Fail to grasp the essential point ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-de-yao-ling)

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