别出心裁
bié chū xīn cái
original; striking out with an idea of one’s own
Character by character
别bié
apart
apart
出chū
produce
produce
心xīn
mind
mind
裁cái
design
design
Example
她别出心裁，把生日蛋糕做成了一本打开的书。
She came up with the original idea of making the birthday cake in the shape of an open book.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
心裁 is one’s own design. Common frames: 别出心裁地 + verb, 设计别出心裁. Its opposite is 千篇一律, all cast in one mould.
Learn this in Lesson 14 · HSK 5: 来一杯奶茶 (Ordering a milk tea)
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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