bǎilǐtiāoyī: 百里挑一 - One in a Hundred, Cream of the Crop [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== bǎilǐtiāoyī: 百里挑一 - One in a Hundred, Cream of the Crop ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**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 Sentences =====
  * **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.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **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**.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[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.