技高一筹 (jì gāo yī chóu) — to be slightly superior in skill; to be one ste…

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'a cut above' in skill or ability — used to praise someone for being slightly better than rivals. Often used as a predicate: 他技高一筹.

verb

to be slightly superior in skillto be one step ahead

技高一筹，。
Tā de jì shù jì gāo yī chóu, zài bǐ sài zhōng qīng sōng huò shèng.
His skills are a cut above, so he easily won the competition.
，技高一筹，。
Zài zhè qún xuǎn shǒu zhōng, tā jì gāo yī chóu, dòng zuò zuò dé zuì dào wèi.
Among this group of contestants, he is one step ahead, with the most precise moves.
技高一筹，。
Tā zǒng shì jì gāo yī chóu, suǒ yǐ měi cì kǎo hé dōu dé dì yī.
She is always a cut above, so she gets first place in every assessment.

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.

扌支技

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

支

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

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

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

高 was drawn as a tall building.

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.

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 籌; 筹 is its simplified writing.

竹壽籌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

壽

壽shòu籌chóu

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

The traditional form 籌 has 竹 (bamboo) on top and 壽 below as the sound part; the simplified 筹 is a later shorthand.