无与伦比 (wú yú lún bǐ) — incomparable; unparalleled; matchless

Definition

An emphatic, written-register idiom meaning 'unmatched, without equal' — used for things (talent, scenery, achievement) the speaker considers the best of its kind.

idiom
incomparableunparalleledmatchless

Examples

  • 无与伦比。
    Zhè zuò jiàn zhù de hóng wěi qì shì wú yú lún bǐ.
    The majestic grandeur of this building is unparalleled.
  • 无与伦比，。
    Tā zài yīn yuè fāng miàn de tiān fù wú yú lún bǐ, lìng rén tàn fú.
    His talent in music is matchless, leaving people in awe.
  • 无与伦比。
    Zhè cì zhǎn lǎn zhǎn shì le wú yú lún bǐ de yì shù pǐn.
    This exhibition displays works of art that are without equal.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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 →

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 倫; 伦 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún倫lún
Same sound today

The traditional form 倫 uses 人 to show people and 侖 to give its sound; the simplified 伦 is a later shorthand.

Open 伦 →

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

  • 匕匕bǐ
  • 匕匕bǐ

比 is two 匕 placed side by side. Chu Wan-li treats both as sound parts, while an old reading takes the side-by-side arrangement as putting things next to each other.

Open 比 →
Appears in
Comparison & DegreeIdioms & Set Phrases

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