与众不同

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yǔ zhòng bù tóng
• English Translation: Different from the rest, unique, outstanding
• Idiom Composition: 「与」（With）＋「众」（Crowd, people）＋「不」（Not）＋「同」（Same）
• Meaning: To be different from others. It describes being unique and outstanding. It is often used in a positive sense to praise individuality and originality.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「与众不同」 contains the following nuances:

• Uniqueness: Refers to possessing unique qualities or characteristics that others do not have.
• Excellence: Often implies not just being different, but also being superior or outstanding compared to others.
• Individuality: Describes having a unique individuality specific to that person or thing.
• Innovativeness: Implies having the ability to break free from conventional frameworks and create new ideas or methods.

3. Usage

「与众不同」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing characteristics of people or things: Used to describe the uniqueness and individuality of a person or thing.
  • Example:「他的设计风格与众不同，充满了现代感。」
    （His design style is unique and full of modernity.）
• Used as a compliment: Used to praise the excellent qualities or outstanding characteristics of a person or thing.
  • Example:「这位年轻艺术家の作品与众不同，充满了想象力。」
    （This young artist's work is outstanding and full of imagination.）
• Emphasizing comparison with others: Used to emphasize how unique a person or thing is compared to others.
  • Example:「在众多应聘者中，她的简历与众不同，引起了我们的注意。」
    （Among many applicants, her resume was different from the rest, attracting our attention.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他的思维方式与众不同，总能提出一些独到的见解。
   （His way of thinking is unique, and he can always offer insightful opinions.）
2. 这家餐厅的装修风格与众不同，给人一种耳目一新的感觉。
   （The decor style of this restaurant is distinctive, giving people a refreshing feeling.）
3. 在这个领域，他是一位与众不同的专家，拥有丰富的经验和独到的见解。
   （In this field, he is an extraordinary expert with rich experience and unique insights.）
4. 她的气质与众不同，优雅而自信。
   （Her temperament is unique, elegant and confident.）
5. 这部电影的叙事手法与众不同，给观众带来了全新的观影体験。
   （The narrative style of this film is different from the rest, bringing a brand new viewing experience to the audience.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Value of individuality: In China, the value of respecting individual uniqueness and creativity is increasingly gaining traction. '与众不同' reflects this social change.
• Contextual usage: '与众不同' can be used in both positive and negative senses. Depending on the context, it can simply mean 'strange' or 'eccentric'.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 独树一帜 (dú shù yì zhì): To establish one's own unique style, to be distinctive.
  • 别具一格 (bié jù yì gé): To have a unique style, to be unconventional.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 千篇一律 (qiān piān yí lǜ): Monotonous, all the same.
  • 随波逐流 (suí bō zhú liú): To drift with the current, to follow the crowd without one's own opinion.

6. Summary

'与众不同' is an ideal idiom for expressing 'individuality' and 'uniqueness', which are increasingly valued in modern Chinese society. When using this phrase, it is important to specify how the subject is 'different from others'. Also, keep in mind that it is often used to praise excellent qualities or outstanding characteristics, rather than simply meaning 'strange'.