突出 (tūchū)

突出 means to be noticeably prominent or excellent, or physically to protrude and stand out beyond a surface.

Meanings

[adjective] Prominent; outstanding; remarkable; conspicuous.
[verb] To stick out; to protrude; to highlight; to emphasize.

Example Sentences

她在班里的表现非常突出。 Tā zài bān lǐ de biǎoxiàn fēicháng tūchū. Her performance in class is very outstanding.

这个设计的突出特点是简洁。 Zhège shèjì de tūchū tèdiǎn shì jiǎnjié. The outstanding feature of this design is its simplicity.

报告应该突出重点，不要太罗嗦。 Bàogào yīnggāi tūchū zhòngdiǎn, bùyào tài luōsuo. The report should highlight the key points and not be too wordy.

山顶上有一块突出的大岩石。 Shāndǐng shàng yǒu yī kuài tūchū de dà yánshí. There is a large protruding rock at the top of the mountain.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
突出贡献	outstanding contribution
突出特点	prominent feature
突出重点	to highlight key points
表现突出	outstanding performance
突出问题	prominent/glaring problem

Usage Notes

As an adjective, 突出 praises someone or something for standing above the rest. As a verb, it means to bring something forward or emphasize it deliberately, as in 突出重点 (highlight key points). Do not confuse with 突然 (tūrán, suddenly).

Memory Hook

突 shows a dog (犬) bursting out of a hole (穴) — something that suddenly pops out is literally sticking out and standing apart.