百年一遇
bǎi nián yī yù
Extreme rarity
Describes something extremely rare or exceptional, occurring with a frequency of once in a hundred years. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of an event or opportunity due to its infrequency.
What does 百年一遇 (bǎi nián yī yù) mean?
百年一遇 (bǎi nián yī yù) means "extreme rarity" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "encounter once in a hundred years."
Character by character
- 百 bǎi hundred
- 年 nián year
- 一 yī one
- 遇 yù encounter
When to use it
Applies to events, opportunities, or phenomena that are truly exceptional due to their extreme rarity. It is often used for natural disasters, significant historical moments, or unique chances, conveying a sense of gravity or specialness.
Example
他错过了百年一遇的日全食景观。
Tā cuòguò le bǎi nián yī yù de rìquánshí jǐngguān.
He missed the spectacle of the once-in-a-century total solar eclipse.
Pro tip: The "hundred years" in this idiom is not a precise interval but rather a hyperbolic expression to convey extreme rarity, similar to "once in a blue moon" in English.
Related idioms
百里挑一 · Exceptional selection半信半疑 · State of doubt变本加厉 · Intensifying negative behavior
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