另辟蹊径
另辟蹊径 (lìng pì xī jìng) literally means “separately open a side path” and expresses “find an alternative approach; think outside the box”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: ling pi xi jing, ling pi xi jing,另辟蹊径 meaning, 另辟蹊径 in english
Find an alternative approach; think outside the box
Pronunciation: lìng pì xī jìng Literal meaning: Separately open a side path
Origin & Usage
To open up (辟) a separate (另) footpath (蹊径). 蹊 is a track worn by feet rather than a built road, which is exactly right: what gets made is not an alternative highway but a way through that did not exist because nobody had walked it. The phrase concedes that the main road is there and perfectly passable. Research, business strategy and artists, as warm praise — the emphasis falls on having thought of it, not on having been forced to.
Examples
English: "Instead of competing directly, she found an innovative alternative approach."
Chinese: 她没有直接竞争，而是另辟蹊径。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
大相径庭
dà xiāng jìng tíng
Vastly different; poles apart
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承上启下
chéng shàng qǐ xià
Serve as a link between preceding and following
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鞭辟入里
biān pì rù lǐ
Penetrating deeply to the essence
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开天辟地
kāi tiān pì dì
Groundbreaking achievement
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深入浅出
shēn rù qiǎn chū
Explain profound ideas in simple terms
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一针见血
yī zhēn jiàn xiě
Hit the nail on the head; incisive
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一目了然
yī mù liǎo rán
Clear at a glance; obvious
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不求甚解
bù qiú shèn jiě
Content with superficial understanding
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 另辟蹊径 mean in English?
另辟蹊径 (lìng pì xī jìng) literally translates to “Separately open a side path” and is used to express “Find an alternative approach; think outside the box”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 另辟蹊径 used?
Situation: Instead of competing directly, she found an innovative alternative approach.
What is the pinyin for 另辟蹊径?
The pinyin pronunciation for 另辟蹊径 is “lìng pì xī jìng”.