new replaces old; each generation surpasses the last
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
the new generation surpasses the old; new waves push old waves (metaphor for constant renewal and progress)
Commonly used to express admiration for younger people surpassing their elders, or to describe how new technology and ideas inevitably replace old ones. Often followed by phrases like '一代更比一代强' (each generation is stronger than the last).
Zhēn真
shì是
Cháng长
Jiāng江
hòu后
làng浪
tuī推
qián前
làng浪
，
zhè这
xiē些
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
de的
chuàng创
yì意
bǐ比
wǒ我
men们
dāng当
nián年
qiáng强
duō多
le了
。
Truly the new generation surpasses the old—the creativity of these young people far exceeds what we had in our day.
Kē科
jì技
lǐng领
yù域
Cháng长
Jiāng江
hòu后
làng浪
tuī推
qián前
làng浪
，
bù不
xué学
xí习
jiù就
huì会
bèi被
táo淘
tài汰
。
In the tech world, new waves constantly push old ones—if you don't keep learning, you'll be left behind.
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Cháng长
Jiāng江
hòu后
làng浪
tuī推
qián前
làng浪
，
shì世
shàng上
xīn新
rén人
gǎn赶
jiù旧
rén人
。
The Yangtze's back waves push the front, just as the new generation catches up to the old.
Kàn看
zhe着
xué学
sheng生
men们
zài在
bǐ比
sài赛
zhōng中
huò获
jiǎng奖
，
lǎo老
shī师
gǎn感
tàn叹
dào道
：
'
Cháng长
Jiāng江
hòu后
làng浪
tuī推
qián前
làng浪
a啊
！
'
Watching his students win awards in the competition, the teacher sighed: 'The new generation truly surpasses the old!'