Definition
标新立异 is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally means 'to raise the new and set apart the different'. It describes deliberately doing something unconventional or making a show of novelty, often to stand out from the crowd. The tone can be neutral or mildly negative — it implies the person is trying too hard to be different rather than being genuinely innovative. Use it when someone's behavior or ideas are intentionally unusual.
f.e.
to deliberately be unconventional or differentto make a display of novelty
Examples
- 标新立异,。Tā zǒng xǐhuan zài huìyì shàng biāo xīn lì yì, dàn tíchū de fāng'àn wǎngwǎng bù shíyòng.He always likes to be unconventional at meetings, but the plans he proposes are often impractical.
- 标新立异,。Zhège shèjì suīrán biāo xīn lì yì, què bù fúhé yònghù de shíjì xūqiú.Although this design is deliberately different, it doesn't meet the actual needs of users.
- ,标新立异,。Tā bú yuàn suí dà liú, fánshì dōu yào biāo xīn lì yì, jiéguǒ chángcháng bèi rén yìlùn.He doesn't want to follow the crowd and insists on being unconventional in everything, which often gets him talked about.
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