Definition
出人头地 is a four-character idiom meaning 'to stand out from the crowd' or 'to achieve great success that elevates one above others'. The literal image is 'to have one's head emerge above the ground' — a metaphor for rising above the average. It's often used in the context of parents' expectations, career ambition, or academic excellence. Unlike 脱颖而出 (which emphasizes talent being noticed), 出人头地 focuses on achieving a prominent social or professional position through hard work.
f.e.
to stand out from the crowdto rise above othersto achieve great success or prominence
Examples
- ，出人头地。Tā cóngxiǎo nǔlì xuéxí, xīwàng jiānglái néng chū rén tóu dì.He has studied hard since childhood, hoping to rise above others in the future.
- 出人头地。Fùmǔ dōu pànwàng zìjǐ de háizi chū rén tóu dì.All parents hope their children will achieve great success.
- ，出人头地。Zài zhège jìngzhēng jīliè de hángyè, yào xiǎng chū rén tóu dì bìng bù róngyì.In this highly competitive industry, it's not easy to stand out from the crowd.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.