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特立獨行

简特立独行 · 繁特立獨行

Mandarin · pinyin tè lì dú xíng

to be unconventional
independence of action

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Characters in this entry

特: tè · special, unique, distinguished
立: lì · stand; let stand; establish, set
獨: Look up this written character
行: xíng · go; walk; move, travel; circulate; Kangxi radical 144
独: dú · alone, single, solitary, only

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–4–2–2 · te4 li4 du2 xing2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

特立獨行 · find source passages ↗ · 特立独行 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) independent in mind and action; unconventional and strong-minded

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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