国士无双
guó shì wú shuāng
a person without equal in the whole nation
Character by character
国guó
nation’s
nation’s
士shì
man
man
无wú
no
no
双shuāng
equal
equal
Example
人们用“国士无双”四个字，表达对这位老科学家的敬意。
People used the four words “a man without equal in the nation” to express their respect for the old scientist.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the Records of the Grand Historian: 萧何 (of 成也萧何，败也萧何, lesson 4-13) urged the founder of the Han to keep 韩信, saying such a man was 国士无双. In 2021 it became the phrase of farewell to 袁隆平; it is kept for the very greatest, so it rings false as everyday flattery.
Learn this in Lesson 127 · HSK 7–9: 送别袁隆平 (Obituary: farewell to Yuan Longping)
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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