与众不同
- Literal
- different from the crowd
- Figurative
- Different from everyone else; standing out as singular or out of the ordinary.
Where does 与众不同 come from?
It does not come from a particular anecdote; it is a common set phrase. Its structure is transparent: 与众 ("compared with the crowd, with others") plus 不同 ("not the same, different"), meaning "different from everyone else." It is usually used approvingly, to mark something or someone that stands out for its originality.
How is 与众不同 used? Two examples
- 她的穿衣风格总是与众不同,一眼就能认出来。
Her style of dressing is always different from everyone else's; you can spot her at a glance.
- 这家小店的设计与众不同,吸引了很多年轻人。
This little shop's design is out of the ordinary, and it attracts a lot of young people.