clear the way with gongs; pave the way
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to have people beat gongs to clear the road ahead
archaicHistorical usage, describing the pomp and ceremony for officials.
Gǔ古
dài代
zhī知
fǔ府
chū出
xún巡
，
yá衙
yì役
men们
zǒng总
yào要
míng鸣
luó锣
kāi开
dào道
。
When a prefect went on an inspection in ancient times, the yamen runners would always clear the way with gongs.
Jiào轿
zi子
qián前
míng鸣
luó锣
kāi开
dào道
de的
duì队
wu伍
shèn甚
shì是
wēi威
fēng风
。
The procession clearing the way with gongs in front of the sedan chair was quite imposing.
verb
to pave the way; to prepare public opinion for something
formalModern figurative usage, often used in political, cultural, or commercial contexts.
Méi媒
tǐ体
de的
dà大
sì肆
xuān宣
chuán传
wèi为
xīn新
chǎn产
pǐn品
míng鸣
luó锣
kāi开
dào道
。
The media's heavy publicity paved the way for the new product.
Zhè这
cì次
zhèng政
cè策
chū出
tái台
qián前
，
zhèng政
fǔ府
yǐ已
jīng经
tōng通
guò过
gè各
zhǒng种
qú渠
dào道
míng鸣
luó锣
kāi开
dào道
。
Before this policy was introduced, the government had already paved the way through various channels.
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Tā他
de的
yǎn演
jiǎng讲
wèi为
xīn新
sī思
xiǎng想
de的
chuán传
bō播
míng鸣
luó锣
kāi开
dào道
。
His speech paved the way for the dissemination of new ideas.