# 不同凡响

bù tóng fán xiǎng

Remarkably outstanding

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Unlike an ordinary sound

**Traditional Chinese:** 不同凡響

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Praise an unusually impressive performance, idea, or work.

Use it for something distinctive, not every ordinary success.

## The image & its use

A performance can leave a strong impression because its sound, structure, or interpretation differs noticeably from the expected. This expression extends that idea beyond music to writing, design, and other achievements. It is emphatic praise, so an explanation of the distinctive quality helps it feel earned. The quality might be clarity, imagination, or a particularly thoughtful solution. Without that detail, the phrase can become a general compliment that says more about enthusiasm than about the work itself.

## Examples

这场钢琴演奏不同凡响，细节处理尤其出色。

### Traditional Chinese

這場鋼琴演奏不同凡響，細節處理尤其出色。

zhè chǎng gāng qín yǎn zòu bù tóng fán xiǎng ， xì jié chǔ lǐ yóu qí chū sè 。

The piano performance was outstanding, particularly in its handling of detail.

她第一次参展的作品就不同凡响。

### Traditional Chinese

她第一次參展的作品就不同凡響。

tā dì yī cì cān zhǎn de zuò pǐn jiù bù tóng fán xiǎng 。

Her first exhibited work was already remarkably impressive.

这个设计不同凡响，把实用与美感结合得很好。

### Traditional Chinese

這個設計不同凡響，把實用與美感結合得很好。

zhè ge shè jì bù tóng fán xiǎng ， bǎ shí yòng yǔ měi gǎn jié hé dé hěn hǎo 。

The design stands out for combining usefulness with beauty.

他的开场介绍不同凡响，让听众马上产生兴趣。

### Traditional Chinese

他的開場介紹不同凡響，讓聽眾馬上產生興趣。

tā de kāi chǎng jiè shào bù tóng fán xiǎng ， ràng tīng zhòng mǎ shàng chǎn shēng xìng qù 。

His exceptional introduction immediately caught the audience's interest.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1219&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E5%90%8C%E5%87%A1%E9%9F%BF)

## Keep exploring

- [不修边幅 bù xiū biān fú Pay little attention to personal appearance ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-xiu-bian-fu)

- [不言而喻 bù yán ér yù Be evident without explanation ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-yan-er-yu)

- [不知所云 bù zhī suǒ yún Be unintelligible or hard to follow ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-zhi-suo-yun)

- [不着边际 bù zhuó biān jì Be irrelevant, unrealistic, or wide of the point ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-zhuo-bian-ji)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 不速之客 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-su-zhi-ke) [Next idiom 不修边幅 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-xiu-bian-fu)