不拘一格
不拘一格 (bù jū yī gé) literally means “not restricted to one standard” and expresses “not confined to a single mould”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: bu ju yi ge, bu ju yi ge,不拘一格 meaning, 不拘一格 in english
Not confined to a single mould
Pronunciation: bù jū yī gé Literal meaning: Not restricted to one standard
Origin & Usage
Gong Zizhen, in the year 1839, wrote a poem asking heaven to rouse itself and send down talent 不拘一格 — not confined (不拘) to a single (一) mould (格). China was on the edge of the Opium War, and the poem opens on a country where ten thousand horses stand mute — 万马齐喑 — which is the silence the talent is wanted to break. 格 is a frame or a set form. The line became one of the most quoted in modern Chinese, and the phrase is now standard in arguments about hiring, admissions and the recognition of unconventional ability.
Examples
English: "Her innovative approach to solving problems showed that creativity knows no bounds."
Chinese: 她创新的解决问题的方法表明，创造力不拘一格。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
别具一格
bié jù yī gé
Have unique style; be distinctive
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格物致知
gé wù zhì zhī
Pursue understanding
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一窍不通
yī qiào bù tōng
Completely ignorant
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一丝不苟
yī sī bù gǒu
Extremely careful and thorough
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不屑一顾
bù xiè yī gù
Disdainfully dismiss as beneath consideration
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一尘不染
yī chén bù rǎn
Moral purity
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一毛不拔
yī máo bù bá
Extremely stingy
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一丝不挂
yī sī bù guà
Stark naked; wholly unattached
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不拘一格 mean in English?
不拘一格 (bù jū yī gé) literally translates to “Not restricted to one standard” and is used to express “Not confined to a single mould”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 不拘一格 used?
Situation: Her innovative approach to solving problems showed that creativity knows no bounds.
What is the pinyin for 不拘一格?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不拘一格 is “bù jū yī gé”.