不俗 (bù sú) — original, uncommon, not hackneyed

Definition

A positive word for refined, distinctive taste or style — 'not ordinary,' but in a flattering sense. Closer to 'refined' than simply 'uncommon.'

adjective

originaluncommonnot hackneyed

不俗，。
Tā de huà fēng bù sú, hěn yǒu gè rén tè sè.
His painting style is original and has a lot of personal character.
不俗，。
Zhè piān wén zhāng lì yì bù sú, zhí dé yì dú.
This article has an uncommon perspective and is worth reading.
，不俗。
Tā suī rán chū shēn píng fán, dàn pǐn wèi bù sú.
Although she comes from an ordinary background, her taste is refined.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

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

亻谷俗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

谷

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

俗 is built from 亻, a person, and 谷, which gives the sound; it refers to customs of people.

Appears in