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.
`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.
`推陈出新` is a formal and highly positive idiom, frequently used in written materials, speeches, and formal discussions.