出類拔萃

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Chinese

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to go out; to come out; to occur
to go out; to come out; to occur; to produce; to go beyond; to rise; to put forth; to happen; (a measure word for dramas, plays, or operas)
 
kind; type; class
kind; type; class; category; similar; like; to resemble
 
to stand out from one's fellows; to be outstanding
trad. (出類拔萃) 拔萃
simp. (出类拔萃) 拔萃

Etymology

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From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑上》):

麒麟走獸鳳凰飛鳥太山丘垤河海行潦聖人未有孔子 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
麒麟走兽凤凰飞鸟太山丘垤河海行潦圣人未有孔子 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Qílín zhī yú zǒushòu, fènghuáng zhī yú fēiniǎo, tàishān zhī yú qiūdié, héhǎi zhī yú xíngliáo, lèi yě. Shèngrén zhī yú mín, yì lèi yě. Chū yú qí lèi, hū qí cuì, zì shēng mín yǐ lái, wèiyǒu shèng yú Kǒngzǐ yě. [Pinyin]
There is the Qi-lin among quadrupeds, the Feng-huang among birds, the Tai mountain among mounds and ant-hills, and rivers and seas among rain-pools. Though different in degree, they are the same in kind. So the sages among mankind are also the same in kind. But they stand out from their fellows, and rise above the level, and from the birth of mankind till now, there never has been one so complete as Confucius.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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出類拔萃

  1. to excel the common; surpassing; preeminent; outstanding