别致 (bié zhì) — unusual and interesting; unique

Definition

别致 describes a tasteful, pleasingly unusual design or style. Unlike 独特 (more neutral 'distinctive') and 奇特 (odd/strange), 别致 is always a compliment.

adjective

unusual and interestingunique

Examples

别致，。
Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn de zhuāng xiū fēi cháng bié zhì, měi gè fáng jiān dōu bù yí yàng.
The decoration of this hotel is very unique, every room is different.
别致，。
Tā dài le yì méi bié zhì de jiè zhi, shì shǒu gōng zhì zuò de.
She wore an unusual ring that was handmade.
别致，。
Zhè ge gōng yuán de shè jì hěn bié zhì, bǎ xiàn dài hé gǔ diǎn yuán sù jié hé le qǐ lái.
The design of this park is unique, combining modern and classical elements.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

别biédifferent

致zhìcharm

别 means different, 致 means charm; together they give an unusual, appealing style.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

冎冎guǎbone
刂刀dāoknife

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

至攵致

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

至zhì致zhì

Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →

Appears in