Not done the usual, accepted way. An unorthodox method, style, or opinion breaks with what most people in that field agree is normal — a coach with an unorthodox training plan, a pianist with an unorthodox way of holding her hands, an unorthodox solution to a maths problem. The key is that there IS a standard way, and this is not it.

Not done the usual, accepted way不是用一般、大家都接受的方式做的 An unorthodox method, style, or opinion像是不按牌理出牌的方法、風格或意見 breaks with what most people in that field agree is normal打破了那個領域裡大多數人都認同的常規 a coach with an unorthodox training plan比如訓練方式很另類的教練 a pianist with an unorthodox way of holding her hands彈琴手勢很特別的鋼琴家 an unorthodox solution to a maths problem或是一道數學題的另類解法 The key is that there IS a standard way重點是本來就存在一種標準做法 and this is not it而這不是那個標準做法

Now, the interesting part: the word is far kinder than it looks. It very often carries admiration, especially when the unorthodox thing worked. 'Her methods are unorthodox but effective' is close to praise.

Now, the interesting part有趣的是 the word is far kinder than it looks這個字其實比看起來友善很多 It very often carries admiration它常常帶著欣賞的意味 especially when the unorthodox thing worked尤其是那個另類的做法後來成功的時候 'Her methods are unorthodox but effective'像 her methods are unorthodox but effective 她的方法很另類但很有效 is close to praise這句話幾乎等於稱讚

Compare 'wrong' or 'improper', which only criticise. When the speaker does disapprove, they usually add something — 'unorthodox and frankly dangerous'. So the word by itself mostly says 'surprising', and the surrounding words tell you whether that is good or bad.

Compare 'wrong' or 'improper'相比之下 wrong 或 improper which only criticise只會帶批評的意思 When the speaker does disapprove當說話者真的不認同時 they usually add something通常會多加一句 'unorthodox and frankly dangerous'像 unorthodox and frankly dangerous 另類、老實說還很危險 So the word by itself mostly says 'surprising'所以這個字單獨用時多半只是說「令人意外」 and the surrounding words tell you whether that is good or bad好壞要看前後文才知道

It is a somewhat formal word; in everyday talk people say 'a weird way of doing it'.

It is a somewhat formal word這個字帶點正式感 in everyday talk people say 'a weird way of doing it'日常口語裡人們會說 a weird way of doing it 很怪的做法

One more thing worth knowing: 'orthodox' with a capital O also names branches of religion (Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Judaism), and there, 'unorthodox' can mean not following religious rules. In ordinary English the everyday 'unusual method' meaning is the one you will meet.

One more thing worth knowing還有一點值得知道 'orthodox' with a capital O大寫O開頭的 orthodox also names branches of religion還可以指宗教的某些派別 Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Judaism像東正教、正統猶太教 and there在這個語境裡 'unorthodox' can mean not following religious rulesunorthodox 可以指不遵守宗教規範 In ordinary English在一般英文裡 the everyday 'unusual method' meaning is the one you will meet你會遇到的多半是那個日常「不尋常做法」的意思