别开生面

別開生面
biékāishēngmiàn
idiom #86,051

Meanings

  1. 1 to break new ground (idiom)
  2. 2 to create an original style
  3. 3 to open a fresh perspective

Examples

Zhè chǎng yǎnchū biékāishēngmiàn, guānzhòng fǎnxiǎng rèliè.
The performance broke new ground — the audience loved it.
Tā de shèjì biékāishēngmiàn, gěi rén ěrmùyīxīn de gǎnjué.
His design is refreshingly original.
Zhè běn xiǎoshuō de xùshì fāngshì biékāishēngmiàn.
The novel's narrative approach breaks new ground.

Tips

history
From Du Fu's 《》 praising the painter : 功臣颜色将军 — the faded portraits at Lingyan Pavilion came alive again under his brush. Hence 'opening a fresh face' = artistic renewal.
usage
Always positive — applied to creative work (art, writing, performance, design). The flavor is 'refreshingly original,' not just 'new'.

Stroke Order

bié
kāi
shēng
miàn