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特立独行 (tè lì dú háng) — independent in mind and action; to set one's own course

Definition

A formal idiom praising someone who thinks and acts independently, ignoring the crowd. Used in writing to describe unusual style or character, not for casual daily speech.

idiom
independent in mind and actionto set one's own course

Examples

  • 特立独行，。
    Tā yì zhí tè lì dú háng, bú zài yì bié rén de yǎn guāng.
    He has always been independent in mind and action, not caring about others' opinions.
  • 特立独行，。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā de zuò pǐn fēng gé tè lì dú háng, shēn shòu shōu cáng jiā xǐ ài.
    This painter's work style is unique and independent, deeply loved by collectors.
  • 特立独行，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ yǐ tè lì dú háng zhù chēng, cóng bù suí bō zhú liú.
    He is known in the company for his independent thinking, never going with the flow.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

特立stand out
特tèspecial立lìstand
偏正Modifier + head
独行act alone
独dúalone行xíngact
偏正Modifier + head

特立 'stand out' and 独行 'act alone' are put side by side to describe someone independent in conduct.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niúox
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì特tè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape combines 牛 (ox) with 寺, which gives the pronunciation; it originally meant a large bull.

Open 特 →

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

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

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