每天成语
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众矢之的

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: zhòng shǐ zhī dì
  • English Translation: Target of many arrows (target of public criticism)
  • Idiom Composition: 「众」（Many people; the public）＋「矢」（Arrow; here it metaphorically represents criticism or attacks）＋「之」（A grammatical particle indicating possession or relation (similar to 'of')）＋「的」（Target; bullseye）
  • Meaning: A target where many arrows converge; figuratively refers to a person or thing that has become the object of widespread public criticism or attack.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「众矢之的」 contains the following nuances:

  • Object of Concentrated Attack: It refers to a state where criticism from the public, media, or a group is focused on a single point, rather than just general unpopularity.
  • Metaphorical Arrows: The 'arrows' in this idiom are not physical weapons but represent verbal condemnation, accusations, and the pursuit of accountability.

3. Usage

「众矢之的」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Scandals and Misconduct: Frequently used when politicians, celebrities, or companies are involved in scandals and face intense backlash from public opinion or the media.
    • Example:「由于发表了不当言论，这位明星一夜之间成了众矢之的。」
      （Due to his inappropriate remarks, the star became the target of public criticism overnight.)
  • Accountability and Blame: Used in situations where responsibility for a project failure or declining performance is focused on a specific individual, such as a leader.
    • Example:「项目失败后，作为负责人的他成了众矢之的。」
      （After the project failed, he, as the person in charge, became the target of everyone's attacks.)
  • Focus of Debate: Used to describe a specific policy or proposal that has become the primary target of intense opposition.
    • Example:「这项新政策刚一推出，就成了众矢之的。」
      （As soon as this new policy was introduced, it became the target of heavy criticism.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 为了保护朋友，他挺身而出，让自己成了众矢之的。
    （To protect his friend, he stepped forward and made himself the target of attack.）
  2. 在那次会议上，他的提议过于激进，立刻成为了众矢之的。
    （At that meeting, his proposal was too radical and immediately became the target of concentrated fire.）
  3. 作为公司的CEO，在业绩下滑时成为众矢之的是无法避免的。
    （As the CEO of the company, it is unavoidable to bear the brunt of criticism when performance declines.）
  4. 不要总是抱怨自己是众矢之的，先反思一下自己的行为吧。
    （Don't just complain about being the target of everyone's blame; first, reflect on your own behavior.）
  5. 这篇文章观点偏颇，发表后立刻成为了学术界众矢之的。
    （This article has a biased perspective and immediately became the target of academic criticism after publication.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This expression appears in the writings of the late Qing Dynasty thinker Tan Sitong (谭嗣同) and the letters of the famous writer Lu Xun (鲁迅). While relatively modern, it is frequently used in contemporary society to describe 'internet firestorms' or public bashing.
  • Nuance: As the word 的 (dì) specifically refers to a 'target' or 'bullseye,' the idiom emphasizes the concentration of attacks on one spot. It suggests a high-pressure situation where one is surrounded by criticism with no easy escape.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

  • Similar Idioms:
    • 千夫所指 (qiān fū suǒ zhǐ): To be pointed at by a thousand men; being condemned by the public.
    • 过街老鼠 (guò jiē lǎo shǔ): A rat crossing the street; someone who is loathed and shunned by everyone.
  • Opposite Idioms:

6. Summary

众矢之的 (zhòng shǐ zhī dì) describes a situation where someone or something is being attacked or criticized from all sides, much like a bullseye being hit by many arrows. It is commonly used in modern contexts to describe public figures facing scandals, leaders taking the blame for failures, or controversial policies receiving heavy backlash.

Featured in the Chuken exam (Japan's Chinese test)Pre-Level 1

Idiom Essay

zhòng shǐ zhī dì
众矢之的
Target of Public Criticism
zài在shēng huó生活lǐ里，wǒ men我们tōng cháng通常bù不xǐ huān喜欢bèi被gū lì孤立。

In life, we generally do not like to be isolated.

dàn但yǒu有yī zhǒng一种“gū lì孤立”，bǐ比méi没rén人lǐ理nǐ你gèng更ràng让rén人gǎn dào感到yā lì压力jù dà巨大。

But there is a kind of isolation that is even more stressful than being ignored.

nà那jiù shì就是——suǒ yǒu所有rén人de的máo tóu矛头，dōu都duì zhǔn对准le了nǐ你。

That is when everyone's spearhead is pointed directly at you.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种wēi xiǎn危险de的chǔ jìng处境，jiào叫“zhòng shǐ zhī dì众矢之的”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically for this dangerous situation called 众矢之的.

zhè ge这个cí词de的huà miàn gǎn画面感fēi cháng非常qiáng强，shèn zhì甚至dài带zhe着yì diǎn一点shā qì杀气。

This word has a very strong sense of imagery, even carrying a bit of murderous intent.

“zhòng众”，shì是dà zhòng大众、hěn很duō多rén人；“shǐ矢”，zài在gǔ wén古文lǐ里shì是“jiàn箭”de的yì si意思；ér而“de的”，zhǐ指de的shì是shè jiàn射箭shí时de的bǎ zi靶子，yě也jiù shì就是nà ge那个hóng xīn红心。

众 means the public or many people; 矢 means arrow in ancient Chinese; and 的 refers to the target or bullseye in archery.

bǎ把tā men它们lián连qǐ lái起来，yì si意思jiù shì就是：xǔ duō许多zhī支jiàn箭，tóng shí同时shè xiàng射向tóng同yí gè一个bǎ zi靶子。

Putting them together, it means many arrows are shot at the same target at the same time.

nǐ你kě yǐ可以xiǎng xiàng想象yī xià一下nà ge那个huà miàn画面：nǐ你zhàn站zài在zhōng jiān中间，sì miàn bā fāng四面八方dōu都shì是pī píng批评de的shēng yīn声音，xiàng像yǔ diǎn雨点yī yàng一样de的jiàn箭fēi飞guò lái过来，ér而nǐ你wú chǔ无处kě可duǒ躲。

Imagine the scene: you are standing in the middle, with voices of criticism coming from all directions like a rain of arrows, and you have nowhere to hide.

wǒ men我们tōng cháng通常zài在shén me shí hòu什么时候yòng用dào到zhè ge这个cí词ne呢？

When do we usually use this word?

wǎng wǎng往往shì是zài在chū出le了dà大wèn tí问题，dà jiā大家jí zhe急着xún zhǎo寻找zé rèn rén责任人de的shí hòu时候。

It is often used when a major problem occurs and everyone is rushing to find the person responsible.

bǐ rú比如，yī zhī一支zhù míng著名de的zú qiú duì足球队shū diào输掉le了guān jiàn关键bǐ sài比赛，nà ge那个zhǐ huī指挥shī wù失误de的jiào liàn教练，kě néng可能jiù就huì会lì kè立刻chéng wéi成为méi tǐ媒体hé和qiú mí球迷yǎn zhōng眼中de的“zhòng shǐ zhī dì众矢之的”。

For example, if a famous football team loses a key match, the coach who made a tactical error might immediately become the 众矢之的 in the eyes of the media and fans.

huò zhě或者，yí gè一个rén人zài在gōng gòng公共chǎng hé场合zuò做le了yī jiàn一件dà jiā大家dōu都bù不rèn kě认可de的shì事，shùn jiān瞬间yǐn lái引来le了suǒ yǒu所有de的zhǐ zé指责。

Or, if someone does something in public that everyone disapproves of, it instantly draws all the blame.

chéng wéi成为“zhòng shǐ zhī dì众矢之的”，bù jǐn jǐn不仅仅shì是bèi被guān zhù关注，ér shì而是bèi被gōng jī攻击。

Becoming a 众矢之的 is not just about being noticed; it is about being attacked.

zài在zhè zhǒng这种shí hòu时候，jiě shì解释wǎng wǎng往往shì是cāng bái wú lì苍白无力de的。

At such times, explanations are often pale and powerless.

yīn wèi因为dà jiā大家de的qíng xù情绪dōu都jí zhōng集中zài在nǐ你shēn shàng身上，nǐ你bù jǐn不仅yào要miàn duì面对jù tǐ具体de的cuò wù错误，hái还yào要chéng shòu承受jí tǐ集体de的fèn nù愤怒。

Because everyone's emotions are focused on you, you not only have to face specific mistakes but also endure collective anger.

zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语ràng让wǒ men我们kàn dào看到le了qún tǐ群体lì liàng力量kě pà可怕de的yí miàn一面。

This idiom shows us the terrifying side of group power.

tā它tí xǐng提醒wǒ men我们，dāng当yí gè rén一个人miàn duì面对yī qún rén一群人de的zhǐ zé指责shí时，shì是duō me多么cuì ruò脆弱。

It reminds us how fragile an individual is when facing the accusations of a crowd.

lǐ jiě理解le了“zhòng shǐ zhī dì众矢之的”de的gǎn jué感觉，yě xǔ也许xià cì下次dāng当wǒ men我们xiǎng yào想要jiā rù加入yī cháng一场jí tǐ集体de的pī píng批评shí时，kě yǐ可以zài在xīn lǐ心里shāo wēi稍微tíng停yī xià一下，xiǎng想yī xiǎng一想：nà ge那个zhàn站zài在bǎ xīn靶心de的rén人，xiàn zài现在zhèng正chéng shòu承受zhe着shén me什么？

Understanding the feeling of 众矢之的, perhaps next time we want to join a collective criticism, we can pause for a moment and think: what is that person at the center of the target enduring right now?

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