# 惊天动地

jīng tiān dòng dì

Have an enormous or dramatic impact

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Startle heaven and shake the earth

**Traditional Chinese:** 驚天動地

**Register:** Emphatic · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe extraordinary events or feats.

Hyperbolic; ordinary work can still be valuable without grandeur.

## Understanding the expression

Heaven and earth react together, making the event seem large enough to disturb the whole world. The expression praises heroic accomplishments or describes overwhelming noise and upheaval. Its force is deliberately exaggerated rather than literal. A quiet achievement can also qualify when its consequences are exceptional. The phrase should match the scale of the event; otherwise it becomes empty excitement and overlooks the value of useful work that proceeds without spectacle.

## Examples

这场大型演出的鼓声惊天动地。

### Traditional Chinese

這場大型演出的鼓聲驚天動地。

zhè chǎng dà xíng yǎn chū de gǔ shēng jīng tiān dòng dì 。

The drums in the large performance sounded earth-shaking.

他们创造了惊天动地的奇迹。

### Traditional Chinese

他們創造了驚天動地的奇蹟。

tā men chuàng zào le jīng tiān dòng dì de qí jì 。

They achieved an extraordinary feat.

他不求惊天动地，只想做好本职工作。

### Traditional Chinese

他不求驚天動地，只想做好本職工作。

tā bù qiú jīng tiān dòng dì ， zhī xiǎng zuò hǎo běn zhí gōng zuò 。

He seeks solid work rather than grand achievements.

故事以惊天动地的新发明收尾。

### Traditional Chinese

故事以驚天動地的新發明收尾。

gù shì yǐ jīng tiān dòng dì de xīn fā míng shōu wěi 。

The story ends with an invention of extraordinary impact.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%A9%9A%E5%A4%A9%E5%8B%95%E5%9C%B0)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=640&webMd=1&la=0)

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