📖 Meaning
To study history thoroughly and be well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge. It describes a person of extensive learning who understands the past and present with equal depth.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom does not trace to a single specific classical text. The character 披 means to open and read through books or records, while 通 means to thoroughly comprehend. Combined, they depict a scholar who diligently studies historical texts and achieves comprehensive understanding spanning from ancient times to the present day, embodying the ideal of broad, time-transcending erudition.
💡 Example Usage
这位老教授披古通今，讲课时引经据典，令学生叹服。
The elderly professor, well-versed in both ancient and modern learning, cited classical texts with such ease during lectures that his students were deeply impressed.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 披古通今
- Pinyin: pī gǔ tōng jīn
- Literal Translation: peruse ancient, understand modern
- Category: Knowledge
- Characters: 4