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与众不同 (yǔ zhòng bù tóng) — (idiom) outstanding, distinctive, different from the ordinary

Definition

Idiom meaning 'standing out from the crowd' — describes a person or thing that is visibly different from the ordinary. Similar to 独特 (a plain adjective for something unique in character) but more emphatic and idiomatic.

idiom
outstandingdistinctivedifferent from the ordinary

Examples

  • 与众不同，。
    Tā zǒng shì chuān dé yǔ zhòng bù tóng, hěn yǒu gè xìng.
    She always dresses distinctively, with a lot of personality.
  • 与众不同，。
    Zhè ge pǐn pái de shǒu jī shè jì yǔ zhòng bù tóng, hěn shòu huān yíng.
    This brand's phone design stands out from the crowd and is very popular.
  • 与众不同，。
    Tā de xiǎng fǎ yǔ zhòng bù tóng, zǒng néng gěi rén jīng xǐ.
    His ideas are unique; they always bring surprises.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 與; 与 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 與 is built from 舁 and 牙, and both parts give the sound.

Open 与 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 眾; 众 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 眾 shows three people under a sun-like shape, meaning a crowd gathered under the sun; the simplified 众 is a later shorthand.

Open 众 →

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.

Open 不 →

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

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Open 同 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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