标新立异
biāo xīn lì yì
to do something new to stand out; to be deliberately different
Character by character
标biāo
display
display
新xīn
new
new
立lì
set up
set up
异yì
different
different
Example
他写文章喜欢标新立异，观点常常让人吃惊。
He likes to be different in his writing, and his views often startle people.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From 《世说新语》, of the monk 支遁 offering a fresh reading of 《庄子》. It can praise originality, but often hints at novelty for its own sake: 为了标新立异而标新立异.
Learn this in Lesson 132 · HSK 7–9: 从的确良到汉服 (From Dacron shirts to Hanfu)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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