bǎilǐtiāoyī: 百里挑一 - One in a Hundred, Cream of the Crop

• Keywords: 百里挑一, bǎi lǐ tiāo yī, one in a hundred, cream of the crop, the best of the best, Chinese idiom meaning, what does bailitiaoiyi mean, outstanding, exceptional person, rare talent, Chinese chengyu.
• Summary: Learn the meaning of the popular Chinese idiom 百里挑一 (bǎi lǐ tiāo yī), a phrase used to describe someone or something that is truly “one in a hundred” or the “cream of the crop.” This guide explores its literal meaning, cultural significance, and how to use this chengyu in modern conversation to praise exceptional talent or outstanding quality, making it a must-know term for any Mandarin learner.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǎi lǐ tiāo yī
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
• HSK Level: N/A (Considered an intermediate to advanced-level idiom, very common in daily life)
• Concise Definition: The single one chosen from a hundred; the very best of a large group.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a group of a hundred people or items. After a careful selection process, only one is chosen. 百里挑一 (bǎi lǐ tiāo yī) is a vivid idiom that captures this idea. It's used to praise a person, object, or even an opportunity that is exceptionally good, outstanding, and rare, having surpassed all its peers.

• 百 (bǎi): The number “hundred.”
• 里 (lǐ): Means “inside” or “among.”
• 挑 (tiāo): To choose, pick, or select.
• 一 (yī): The number “one.”

Putting them together, the phrase literally translates to “from a hundred inside, pick one.” This paints a clear and powerful picture of a rigorous selection that results in identifying the absolute best.

• The Value of Excellence: The existence and frequent use of 百里挑一 highlight the cultural importance placed on excellence, high standards, and succeeding in a competitive environment. In a country with a large population, standing out from the crowd is a significant achievement, whether in academics (like the notoriously difficult 高考 gāokǎo college entrance exam), career, or even personal life.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: This idiom is very similar to the English phrases “cream of the crop” or “one in a million.” However, there's a subtle difference. “Cream of the crop” implies a natural rising to the top, while 百里挑一 strongly emphasizes an active process of selection (挑, tiāo). “One in a million” is often more hyperbolic. 百里挑一 feels more grounded—still incredibly impressive, but focused on being the best choice from a large, tangible group of competitors rather than a statement of pure statistical rarity.
• Modern Relevance: The term gained massive modern popularity as the title of a famous Chinese dating show, 《百里挑一》, which reinforced its use in the context of finding a perfect, highly desirable partner.

百里挑一 is a versatile idiom used in both formal and informal contexts to give a strong compliment. It is almost always positive.

• Recruitment and Careers: Companies use it to describe their rigorous hiring process or the exceptional quality of their employees.
  • “我们的工程师都是百里挑一的精英。” (Our engineers are all elite, the cream of the crop.)
• Relationships and Dating: Used to describe a partner who is considered a perfect match and exceptionally wonderful.
  • “对我来说，我的妻子是百里挑一的好女人。” (To me, my wife is a one-in-a-hundred kind of good woman.)
• Competitions and Achievements: To praise a winner or someone who has demonstrated outstanding skill.
  • “能在这次比赛中获奖的选手，个个都是百里挑一。” (The contestants who can win an award in this competition are all cream of the crop.)
• Products and Quality: To describe an item of superior quality that stands out from its competitors.
  • “这个手工制作的包，从设计到做工，都是百里挑一。” (This handmade bag, from design to craftsmanship, is one in a hundred.)

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司这次招聘，收到了上千份简历，但最终录取的都是百里挑一的人才。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī zhècì zhāopìn, shōudàole shàng qiān fèn jiǎnlì, dàn zuìzhōng lùqǔ de dōu shì bǎilǐtiāoyī de réncái.
  • English: For this round of hiring, our company received over a thousand resumes, but the ones we finally hired are all cream-of-the-crop talents.
  • Analysis: A very common use in a business context, emphasizing the high standards of the company and the quality of its new hires.
• Example 2:
  • 你能找到这么好的男朋友，真是百里挑一的福气。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng zhǎodào zhème hǎo de nánpéngyou, zhēn shì bǎilǐtiāoyī de fúqi.
  • English: You were able to find such a good boyfriend; that's truly a one-in-a-hundred blessing.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom is used to describe not the person, but the luck or blessing (福气, fúqi) of the situation, showing its flexibility.
• Example 3:
  • 这批苹果经过严格筛选，每一个都是百里挑一的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè pī píngguǒ jīngguò yángé shāixuǎn, měi yí ge dōu shì bǎilǐtiāoyī de.
  • English: This batch of apples went through a strict selection process; every single one is the best of the best.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the idiom's use for inanimate objects, emphasizing superior quality.
• Example 4:
  • 他是球队里百里挑一的神射手。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì qiúduì lǐ bǎilǐtiāoyī de shénshèshǒu.
  • English: He is the one-in-a-hundred sharpshooter on the team.
  • Analysis: A straightforward and powerful way to praise someone's specific skill.
• Example 5:
  • 作为一名宇航员，他经历了百里挑一的选拔过程。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng yǔhángyuán, tā jīnglìle bǎilǐtiāoyī de xuǎnbá guòchéng.
  • English: As an astronaut, he went through a one-in-a-hundred selection process.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom modifies the “selection process” (选拔过程, xuǎnbá guòchéng) itself, describing it as extremely rigorous.
• Example 6:
  • 在这么多候选人中，她是百里挑一的最佳人选。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhème duō hòuxuǎnrén zhōng, tā shì bǎilǐtiāoyī de zuìjiā rénxuǎn.
  • English: Among so many candidates, she is the cream-of-the-crop best choice.
  • Analysis: This sentence feels slightly redundant (“best of the best choice”), but it's a common way to add strong emphasis in spoken Chinese.
• Example 7:
  • 我觉得这个设计方案是所有方案中百里挑一的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde zhège shèjì fāng'àn shì suǒyǒu fāng'àn zhōng bǎilǐtiāoyī de.
  • English: I think this design proposal is the best of all the proposals, a real standout.
  • Analysis: Shows the idiom's use in a professional setting for evaluating ideas or plans.
• Example 8:
  • 要想进入这所音乐学院，你必须是百里挑一的天才。
  • Pinyin: Yào xiǎng jìnrù zhè suǒ yīnyuè xuéyuàn, nǐ bìxū shì bǎilǐtiāoyī de tiāncái.
  • English: If you want to get into this music conservatory, you have to be a one-in-a-hundred genius.
  • Analysis: Connects the idiom directly with the concept of talent (天才, tiāncái), a very common pairing.
• Example 9:
  • 这块玉的成色和质地都是百里挑一的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuài yù de chéngsè hé zhìdì dōu shì bǎilǐtiāoyī de.
  • English: The color and texture of this piece of jade are both cream of the crop.
  • Analysis: Highlights its use in describing luxury goods or items where quality is paramount.
• Example 10:
  • 在那个年代，能上大学的人都是百里挑一。
  • Pinyin: Zài nàge niándài, néng shàng dàxué de rén dōu shì bǎilǐtiāoyī.
  • English: In that era, people who could go to university were all one in a hundred.
  • Analysis: A historical context that shows how the standard for being “exceptional” can change over time.

• Don't Overuse It: This is a strong compliment. Using it to describe something that is merely “good” or “above average” can make you sound insincere. Save it for things that are truly exceptional.
  • Incorrect: 这个菜味道还不错，真是百里挑一。 (This dish tastes pretty good, it's truly one in a hundred.) - This is an exaggeration unless the dish is life-changingly delicious.
• Figurative, Not Literal: Do not take “one hundred” literally. It simply means “a large group.” The selection pool could be twenty or a thousand; the point is that the chosen one is the clear best.
• “One in a Hundred” vs. “Unique”: Be careful not to confuse 百里挑一 (bǎilǐtiāoyī) with 独一无二 (dúyīwú'èr), which means “unique” or “one of a kind.”
  • 百里挑一 implies superiority within a group of similar items (e.g., the best student in the class).
  • 独一无二 implies that there are no others like it at all (e.g., the Mona Lisa is unique). An expert might be 百里挑一, but their fingerprint is 独一无二.

• 出类拔萃 (chū lèi bá cuì): A synonym meaning to “stand out from the pack” or “be preeminent.” It focuses more on the quality of rising above others.
• 凤毛麟角 (fèng máo lín jiǎo): Literally “phoenix feathers and qilin horns.” Describes something that is exceptionally rare and precious, even more so than 百里挑一.
• 万里挑一 (wàn lǐ tiāo yī): “One chosen from ten thousand.” A direct and stronger exaggeration of 百里挑一, used for something even more exceptional or rare.
• 佼佼者 (jiǎo jiǎo zhě): A noun for an “outstanding person” or a “leader in a field.” A person who is 百里挑一 can be called a 佼佼者.
• 精英 (jīng yīng): The modern, common word for “elite.” It's the noun that describes the type of person or group that has gone through a 百里挑一 selection.
• 独一无二 (dú yī wú èr): “Unique; one of a kind.” An antonym in concept, as it emphasizes uniqueness rather than superiority through selection from a group of peers.