百里挑一

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bǎi lǐ tiāo yī
• English Translation: One in a hundred (the cream of the crop)
• Idiom Composition: 「百」（Hundred (symbolizing a large quantity)）＋「里」（Among or within）＋「挑」（To pick or select）＋「一」（One (representing the single best choice)）
• Meaning: To be one in a hundred; describing someone or something that is exceptionally outstanding and selected from a large group.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「百里挑一」 contains the following nuances:

• Rarity and Excellence: This idiom implies more than just being rare; it emphasizes that the subject has been 'chosen' because of its high quality. It is often used in the context of highly competitive selections.
• Relative Comparison: Rather than an absolute standard, it emphasizes how the subject towers over the surrounding crowd (the 'hundred').

3. Usage

「百里挑一」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Evaluating People: Used to praise someone whose skills, looks, or character are far above average. It is common in recruitment or when describing a perfect partner.
  • Example:「她是百里挑一的美女，不仅长得漂亮，性格也很温柔。」
    （She is one in a hundred; not only is she beautiful, but she also has a very gentle personality.）
• Product Quality: Used to highlight that items have undergone rigorous selection and represent the highest quality.
  • Example:「这些苹果都是经过严格筛选，个个百里挑一。」
    （These apples have all been strictly screened; every single one is the cream of the crop.）

Additional Examples:

1. 要想在这次比赛中获胜，必须是百里挑一的高手。
   （To win this competition, you must be a top-tier expert.）
2. 这家公司招聘非常严格，录用的员工都是百里挑一的人才。
   （This company's recruitment is very strict; the employees they hire are all elite talents.）
3. 能找到像他这样百里挑一的好女婿，真是你们家的福气。
   （You are truly lucky to find such an exceptional son-in-law like him.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• This idiom appears in the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦). It was used to praise the appearance and character of key figures like Xue Baochai (薛宝钗).
• In Chinese culture, numbers are often used figuratively. While 百 (bǎi) means 'hundred,' it represents a vast group. To express even higher levels of rarity, the phrases 千里挑一 (qiān lǐ tiāo yī) for 'one in a thousand' and 万里挑一 (wàn lǐ tiāo yī) for 'one in ten thousand' are used to increase the degree of praise.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 出类拔萃 (chū lèi bá cuì): To stand out from the crowd; to be preeminent.
  • 凤毛麟角 (fèng máo lín jiǎo): Rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns (extremely rare and precious).
  • 举世无双 (jǔ shì wú shuāng): Unrivaled in the world.link
  • 鹤立鸡群 (hè lì jī qún): A person who stands out from the crowd.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 比比皆是 (bǐ bǐ jiē shì): Can be found everywhere; ubiquitous.link
  • 多如牛毛 (duō rú niú máo): As numerous as the hairs on an ox.
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary, nothing special.link

6. Summary

百里挑一 (bǎi lǐ tiāo yī) is a complimentary expression used to describe a person or object that stands out as the very best among many candidates. It is frequently used to praise someone's exceptional talent, appearance, or the superior quality of a product. While 百 (bǎi) literally means 'hundred,' it symbolizes a large number. To emphasize even greater rarity, one might use 千里挑一 (qiān lǐ tiāo yī) or 万里挑一 (wàn lǐ tiāo yī).