Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== tuīchénchūxīn: 推陈出新 - To push out the old and bring in the new; To innovate ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** tuichenchuxin, tuī chén chū xīn, 推陈出新, innovate in Chinese, weed out the old to bring in the new, Chinese idiom for innovation, progress, tradition and modernity, creative evolution, Chinese business vocabulary. * **Summary:** The Chinese idiom **tuīchénchūxīn (推陈出新)** literally means "to push out the old and bring forth the new." It describes a dynamic process of innovation that builds upon existing foundations rather than completely discarding the past. This concept is vital in understanding modern China's approach to business, technology, and the arts, where evolving from tradition is often valued more than radical, ground-up disruption. It's about selectively weeding out the stale to make way for the fresh, ensuring continuous improvement and relevance. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** tuī chén chū xīn * **Part of Speech:** Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ); Verb * **HSK Level:** Advanced / Chengyu (Beyond standard HSK 6) * **Concise Definition:** To get rid of the old and stale, and bring in the new and fresh. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine an old pantry. You don't just throw everything out. You **push aside (推)** the **stale (陈)** ingredients, but you might keep the good flour and spices. Then, you **bring out (出)** the **new (新)**, fresh vegetables to create a better, more vibrant meal. `推陈出新` is this process: a thoughtful evolution that respects the good parts of the past while actively creating a better future. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **推 (tuī):** To push, to promote, to advance. * **陈 (chén):** Old, stale, outdated. It can also mean "to display," but here it carries the connotation of something that has been sitting around for too long. * **出 (chū):** To come out, to bring forth, to produce, to emerge. * **新 (xīn):** New, fresh, modern. These characters combine to form a vivid action: "Pushing away the old/stale (`推陈`) in order to bring forth the new (`出新`)." It emphasizes an active, deliberate process of renewal and improvement. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== `推陈出新` encapsulates a core tension and value in Chinese culture: the simultaneous respect for a deep, long history and the relentless drive for modernization and progress. In the West, innovation is often framed as "disruption" or "creative destruction," concepts that can imply a complete break with the past and a desire to make existing models obsolete. While China embraces disruption in fields like tech, the underlying cultural ideal is often closer to `推陈出新`. This philosophy suggests that true, sustainable innovation comes from understanding and refining what came before. For example, a Western startup might aim to "disrupt" the taxi industry with an entirely new app-based model. A Chinese company, guided by the principle of `推陈出新`, might integrate new technology into the existing system, improving it while maintaining some familiar structures. This is not a universal rule, but it highlights a different emphasis. The value is placed on a continuous, evolutionary improvement that honors its roots, rather than a revolutionary act that seeks to erase them. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `推陈出新` is a formal and highly positive idiom, frequently used in written materials, speeches, and formal discussions. * **Business and Technology:** This is a buzzword in the corporate world. Companies are constantly praised for their ability to `推陈出新` their product lines, marketing strategies, or management models to stay ahead of the competition. * **Arts and Culture:** An artist who blends traditional ink wash painting techniques with modern digital art is a perfect example of `推陈出新`. The same applies to chefs who reinvent classic dishes or fashion designers who modernize traditional garments like the `旗袍 (qípáo)`. * **Government and Policy:** Officials use this term to describe reforms, emphasizing that they are improving the system by weeding out old, inefficient laws and introducing new, progressive policies. * **Connotation:** The connotation is overwhelmingly positive. It implies creativity, dynamism, progress, and intelligence. * **Formality:** As a `chengyu`, it is considered formal and eloquent. While perfectly normal in a business meeting or a news article, it might sound a bit too serious in a very casual chat among close friends. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 科技公司必须不断**推陈出新**，才能在激烈的市场竞争中生存下来。 * Pinyin: Kējì gōngsī bìxū búduàn **tuīchénchūxīn**, cáinéng zài jīliè de shìchǎng jìngzhēng zhōng shēngcún xiàlái. * English: Tech companies must constantly innovate in order to survive in the fierce market competition. * Analysis: A classic example from the business/tech world. `推陈出新` here refers to the continuous cycle of product development and innovation. * **Example 2:** * 这位厨师擅长在传统菜肴的基础上**推陈出新**，创造出独特的口味。 * Pinyin: Zhè wèi chúshī shàncháng zài chuántǒng càiyáo de jīchǔ shàng **tuīchénchūxīn**, chuàngzào chū dútè de kǒuwèi. * English: This chef is skilled at innovating on the basis of traditional dishes to create unique flavors. * Analysis: This highlights the core cultural meaning: innovation (`推陈出新`) is built "on the basis of" (`在...的基础上`) tradition. * **Example 3:** * 我们的教育体系需要**推陈出新**，引入更多现代化的教学方法。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de jiàoyù tǐxì xūyào **tuīchénchūxīn**, yǐnrù gèng duō xiàndàihuà de jiàoxué fāngfǎ. * English: Our education system needs to weed out the old and bring in the new, introducing more modern teaching methods. * Analysis: Used in the context of institutional reform. It implies getting rid of outdated methods to make way for better ones. * **Example 4:** * 每年，这家时装品牌都会**推陈出新**，发布引领潮流的新款设计。 * Pinyin: Měi nián, zhè jiā shízhuāng pǐnpái dōu huì **tuīchénchūxīn**, fābù yǐnlǐng cháoliú de xīnkuǎn shèjì. * English: Every year, this fashion brand innovates, releasing new designs that lead the trends. * Analysis: Shows the term's use in creative industries like fashion. * **Example 5:** * 博物馆的成功在于它不仅保存历史，还能**推陈出新**，用新的方式吸引年轻人。 * Pinyin: Bówùguǎn de chénggōng zàiyú tā bùjǐn bǎocún lìshǐ, hái néng **tuīchénchūxīn**, yòng xīn de fāngshì xīyǐn niánqīng rén. * English: The museum's success lies in the fact that it not only preserves history but can also innovate, using new methods to attract young people. * Analysis: This perfectly captures the balance: preserving the old (`保存历史`) while bringing in the new (`推陈出新`). * **Example 6:** * 他的人生哲学就是不断学习，不断**推陈出新**，从不固步自封。 * Pinyin: Tā de rénshēng zhéxué jiùshì búduàn xuéxí, búduàn **tuīchénchūxīn**, cóng bù gùbùzìfēng. * English: His life philosophy is to constantly learn and innovate, never becoming complacent and refusing to move forward. * Analysis: Here, the term is applied to personal development, meaning to shed old bad habits or outdated ideas for new, better ones. * **Example 7:** * 中医也需要**推陈出新**，结合现代科学技术来提高疗效。 * Pinyin: Zhōngyī yě xūyào **tuīchénchūxīn**, jiéhé xiàndài kēxué jìshù lái tígāo liáoxiào. * English: Traditional Chinese Medicine also needs to innovate, combining with modern science and technology to improve its efficacy. * Analysis: A powerful example showing how even the most traditional fields are seen as needing to evolve. * **Example 8:** * 这个软件的上一个版本有很多问题，希望新版本能**推陈出新**。 * Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de shàng yīgè bǎnběn yǒu hěn duō wèntí, xīwàng xīn bǎnběn néng **tuīchénchūxīn**. * English: The last version of this software had a lot of problems; I hope the new version can bring forth some real improvements. * Analysis: A slightly more colloquial use, expressing a hope for meaningful improvement over a flawed predecessor. * **Example 9:** * 好的艺术家懂得如何**推陈出新**，而不是一味地模仿前人。 * Pinyin: Hǎo de yìshùjiā dǒngdé rúhé **tuīchénchūxīn**, ér búshì yíwèi de mófǎng qiánrén. * English: A good artist knows how to innovate, not just blindly imitate their predecessors. * Analysis: This sets up a clear contrast between true innovation and mere imitation. * **Example 10:** * 公司的管理理念必须**推陈出新**，才能适应时代的变化。 * Pinyin: Gōngsī de guǎnlǐ lǐniàn bìxū **tuīchénchūxīn**, cáinéng shìyìng shídài de biànhuà. * English: The company's management philosophy must evolve to adapt to the changes of the times. * Analysis: Here, `推陈出新` is used for abstract concepts like philosophies and ideas, not just physical products. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Not just "replacement":** A common mistake is to think `推陈出新` simply means replacing something old with something new. If you just buy a new car, you would say `我换了一辆新车 (wǒ huàn le yí liàng xīn chē)`. You wouldn't use `推陈出新`. The term implies a process of creation and improvement. A car *company* `推陈出新`s its new models, but a consumer just `换 (huàn)`s their old one. * **It's not "throwing out the baby with the bathwater":** `推陈出新` does not mean discarding everything from the past. The character `陈 (chén)` specifically means "stale" or "outdated." The valuable, timeless parts of tradition are often the foundation upon which the "new" (`新`) is built. It is a selective, intelligent process. * **"False Friend": "Out with the old, in with the new."** While similar, the English phrase is often used casually (e.g., for New Year's resolutions) and can imply a complete and simple replacement. `推陈出新` is more profound and formal, describing a thoughtful process of creative evolution that is central to progress in business, arts, and society. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[创新]] (chuàngxīn):** The standard, modern word for "to innovate" or "innovation." `推陈出新` is a more descriptive, classical idiom that explains the *process* of how innovation often happens. * **[[改革]] (gǎigé):** To reform, especially in a political, economic, or social context. `推陈出新` is often the spirit behind a successful `改革`. * **[[与时俱进]] (yǔ shí jù jìn):** To advance with the times. A close synonym that emphasizes keeping pace with current trends and developments. * **[[吐故纳新]] (tǔ gù nà xīn):** Literally "to exhale the old and inhale the new." A metaphor from Daoist breathing exercises, this term is very similar to `推陈出新` but is often used to describe metabolism or the process of accepting new people or ideas into an organization. * **[[革故鼎新]] (gé gù dǐng xīn):** To discard the old and establish the new. A more radical and formal synonym, suggesting a complete overhaul rather than a gradual evolution. * **[[承前启后]] (chéng qián qǐ hòu):** To inherit from the past and usher in the future. This idiom emphasizes continuity and the link between generations. It describes the foundation upon which `推陈出新` can occur. * **[[保守]] (bǎoshǒu):** Conservative; to guard the old. This is a functional antonym, representing the resistance to change and innovation.