Yǔqí gēnfēng, bùrú dú pì xī jìng, zuòchū zìjǐ de tèsè.
Rather than follow the crowd, it's better to forge your own path and make something distinctive.
Tips
history
From Ye Xie's 《原诗·外篇》 (Qing-dynasty poetics treatise): a critic praises poets who 独辟蹊径, ignoring conventional categories of style and form to find their own way. Originally about literary innovation, now applied broadly.
usage
Strong compliment for creative or intellectual originality — research, art, business strategy, design. Implies the new path actually works, not just that someone is being contrarian.
