Chengyu for standing out

[Scoobyqueen]

I am trying to recall a chengyu. This was the context: I was chatting to someone about the Chinese educational system and job scene and I asked if it wasnt difficult to stand out when there are that many people competing and she said yes and there is a chengyu for that.... but now I cant remember what she suggested. I would love to know if there is a good chengyu describing this situation. Any suggestions?

[anonymoose]

The one that comes to mind is 鹤立鸡群, but maybe you are looking for the opposite meaning, right?

[Scoobyqueen]

Thanks for this suggestion. I think this may indeed be the one. The reason why I couldnt remember it is that I didnt understand which bird it was in English. Now you mention it, I had a chance to look it up and I am fairly certain this chengyu is it. Thank you.

[tooironic]

脱颖而出 tuōyǐng'érchū comes to mind as well.

[aristotle1990]

Also 与众不同.

[siledouyaoai]

Or possibly 出类拔萃

[laopengyou]

What about 人才出众 ?

Best regards.

[Guoke]

东方不败

独孤求败

[doraemon]

脱颖而出 tuōyǐng'érchū comes to mind as well.

Also 与众不同.

I like these two. In your case, they would fit perfectly.

[jbradfor]

Not a chengyu, but here is a poster.

Alternatively, supposedly in Japanese the saying is "Deru kugi wa utareru", translated as "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down".

[fengyixiao]

The most perfect chengyu is 出类拔萃.

鹤立鸡群 has some meaning to insult others.

与众不同 doesn't mean good，maybe foolish.

You should 出类拔萃，then you can 脱颖而出.

[Glenn]

...supposedly in Japanese the saying is "Deru kugi wa utareru"' date=' translated as "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down".[/quote']

That's right. It looks like this: 出る釘は打たれる。Although I'm more familiar with the one that use kui in place of kugi: 出る杭は打たれる。