Meaning:
“新” means “new,” and “四大发明” refers to “Four Great Inventions,” which are inventions from ancient China celebrated for their historical significance. Deemed symbols of ancient China’s advanced science and technology, these include the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing. A poll by the Silk Road Research Institute of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has selected the Four New Great Inventions. Overseas students from 20 “Belt and Road” countries, who were subjects of the poll, said “mobile payment, high-speed rail, online shopping and the sharing economy as represented by shared bicycles” are the four things they want most for their own countries.
Example:
A: 你知道新四大发明吗？
Nǐ zhīdào xīn sìdà fāmíng ma?
Do you know about the Four New Great Inventions?
B: 当然知道，就是移动支付、高铁、网购和共享经济。
Dāngrán zhīdào, jìushì yídòng zhīfù、gāotiě、wǎnggòu hé gòngxiǎng jīngjì。
Sure. They are mobile payment, high-speed rail, online shopping and the sharing economy.
(First editor: Debra Li)