標新立異

See also: 标新立异

Chinese

the topmost branches of a tree; surface; sign
the topmost branches of a tree; surface; sign; to mark; (outward) sign; indication; prize; award; bid
 
new; newly; meso- (chem.) set up; to stand different; unusual; strange
trad. (標新立異)
simp. (标新立异)

Etymology

From Shishuo Xinyu:

卓然標新立異之外 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
卓然标新立异之外 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5th century CE
Zhī zhuórán biāo xīn lǐ yú èr jiā zhī biǎo, lì yì yì yú zhòng xián zhī wài. [Pinyin]
Zhi boldly marked out new principles beyond any proposed by the two (above-named) commentators, and established a novel interpretation unlike that of any of the previous worthies.

Pronunciation


Idiom

標新立異

  1. to start something new just in order to be different; to be original