出类拔萃
出类拔萃 (chū lèi bá cuì) literally means “rise above the crowd” and expresses “excellence that outshines all others”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: chu lei ba cui, chu lei ba cui,出类拔萃 meaning, 出类拔萃 in english
Excellence that outshines all others
Pronunciation: chū lèi bá cuì
Literal meaning: Rise above the crowd
Origin & Usage
This distinguished idiom describes emerging (出) from a category (类) and rising above (拔) the crowd (萃), originating from the Book of Later Han. It first described officials whose exceptional talents distinguished them from colleagues. The agricultural metaphor suggests a plant growing noticeably taller than surrounding vegetation, drawing from farming imagery familiar in Chinese society. During the Tang Dynasty, imperial examination reports adopted it to identify truly remarkable candidates. Unlike terms for simple superiority, it specifically emphasizes natural excellence that becomes self-evident through comparison. Modern usage identifies individuals whose abilities or achievements significantly surpass their peer group, particularly in competitive fields where meaningful differentiation requires substantial superiority.
When to Use
Situation: Her research paper was clearly superior to all others submitted to the conference
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 出类拔萃 mean in English?
出类拔萃 (chū lèi bá cuì) literally translates to “Rise above the crowd” and is used to express “Excellence that outshines all others”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 出类拔萃 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving excellence that outshines all others.
What is the pinyin for 出类拔萃?
The pinyin pronunciation for 出类拔萃 is “chū lèi bá cuì”.