一反常态 (yī fǎn cháng tài) — to act out of character; to depart from one's usual behavior

Definition

An idiom meaning someone is acting opposite to their usual self — used to highlight surprising behavior. Roughly equivalent to 'out of character' or 'not one's usual way'.

idiom
to act out of characterto depart from one's usual behavior

Examples

  • 一反常态，。
    Tā jīn tiān yī fǎn cháng tài, jū rán zhǔ dòng dǎ sǎo le fáng jiān.
    He acted out of character today — he actually cleaned the room on his own.
  • 一反常态，。
    Yí xiàng yán sù de jīng lǐ yī fǎn cháng tài, zài huì yì shàng jiǎng le gè xiào hua.
    The usually serious manager was out of character and told a joke at the meeting.
  • ，一反常态。
    Tā píng shí hěn jié jiǎn, zhè cì yī fǎn cháng tài mǎi le gè míng pái bāo.
    She's usually frugal, but this time she acted out of character and bought a designer bag.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng常cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Open 常 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
太
太tài态tài
Same sound today

态 is made of 太, which gives the sound, and 心 (heart).

Open 态 →

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