長江後浪推前浪 cháng jiāng hòu làng tuī qián làng

new generation beats the old; constant renewal

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. the rear waves of the Yangtze River drive on those before (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. the new is constantly replacing the old
  3. 3. each new generation excels the previous
  4. 4. (of things) to be constantly evolving

Characters

Character Meaning
長 cháng
to grow; to develop; to increase
江 jiāng HSK 4
river; surname Jiang
後 hòu
behind; after; later
浪 làng HSK 4
wave; unrestrained; dissipated
推 tuī HSK 4
to push; to push forward; to put off
前 qián HSK 1
front; before; forward
浪 làng HSK 4
wave; unrestrained; dissipated