鹤立鸡群 hè lì jī qún
to stand head and shoulders above the rest; a crane among chickens
Literally: crane stand chicken flock
Tap a character above to see its stroke order and the words it appears in.
Origin
From the Shishuo Xinyu (Rong Zhi): someone reports seeing Ji Shao in a crowd 昂昂然如野鹤之在鸡群 — towering like a wild crane among chickens.
How to use it
Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 在人群中鹤立鸡群.
Example sentences
Show:
Tap any word for its meaning and pinyin. The chengyu is highlighted.
- 他身高两米，站在人群中鹤立鸡群。Tā shēngāo liǎng mǐ, zhàn zài rénqún zhōng hè lì jī qún.At two metres tall, he stands head and shoulders above everyone in the crowd.he height two metre, stand at crowd among crane stand chicken flock
- 她的设计作品在展览中鹤立鸡群，赢得了评委的一致好评。Tā de shèjì zuòpǐn zài zhǎnlǎn zhōng hè lì jī qún, yíngdé le píngwěi de yízhì hǎopíng.Her design work stood out from everything else in the exhibition and won unanimous praise from the judges.she (attributive particle) design work at exhibition among crane stand chicken flock, win (aspect particle) judge (attributive particle) unanimous good review
More chengyu about animals & fables
- 螳臂当车táng bì dāng chēa mantis trying to stop a chariot; to overrate oneself and attempt the impossible
- 杯弓蛇影bēi gōng shé yǐngto mistake the reflection of a bow for a snake; to be plagued by groundless fears
- 惊弓之鸟jīng gōng zhī niǎoa bird startled by the mere twang of a bow; a person once frightened and now easily panicked
- 老马识途lǎo mǎ shí túan old horse knows the way; experience is a reliable guide
- 如鱼得水rú yú dé shuǐlike a fish in water; perfectly in one's element
- 黔驴技穷qián lǘ jì qióngto have exhausted one's limited tricks; at one's wit's end
- 生龙活虎shēng lóng huó hǔfull of vim and vigour; bursting with energy
- 亡羊补牢wáng yáng bǔ láobetter late than never; to mend the fold after a sheep is lost