古为今用
gǔ​wéi​jīn​yòng

to make the past serve the present

  1. 古 gǔ adjective
    ancient
    ancient; old; from the distant past; referring to former times as opposed to the present
  2. 为 為 wéi verbpreposition
    to be
    to be; to become; to act as; to serve as; to take as
  3. 今 jīn
    modern
    modern; contemporary (as opposed to ancient 古 gǔ)
  4. 用 yòng verb
    to use
    To use; to employ; to apply or make use of something to achieve a purpose.