百里挑一 (bǎi lǐ tiāo yī) — (idiom) one in a hundred, cream of the crop, ou… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'one picked from a hundred' — used to praise something as exceptional, the best of its kind. A stronger, more literary way to say 'outstanding' than plain 优秀.

idiom

one in a hundredcream of the cropoutstanding in every way

Examples

百里挑一，。
Zhè ge yǎn yuán de yǎn jì zài tóng háng zhōng bǎi lǐ tiāo yī, dà jiā dōu shuō tā shì zuì yōu xiù de.
This actor's acting is one in a hundred among peers; everyone says she's the best.
，百里挑一，。
Zhè pī chǎn pǐn jīng guò yán gé shāi xuǎn, měi yí gè dōu bǎi lǐ tiāo yī, bǎo zhèng zhì liàng.
This batch of products underwent strict screening; each one is cream of the crop, guaranteed quality.
，百里挑一，。
Zài zhòng duō cān sài xuǎn shǒu zhōng, tā bǎi lǐ tiāo yī, zuì zhōng duó dé le guàn jūn.
Among many contestants, he was one in a hundred and ultimately won the championship.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

百里hundred li

百bǎihundred里lǐli

偏正Modifier + head

挑一pick one

挑tiāopick一yīone

动宾Verb + object

It pictures taking 一 out of 百里, so only one in a hundred is chosen as outstanding.

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.

一白百

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

白

白bái百bǎi

Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

衤里裡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衤Written in full as衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

里lǐ裡lǐ

Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

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

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

兆

兆zhào挑tiāo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挑 has 手, meaning hand, and 兆, which gives the sound.

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.

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