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众志成城

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: zhòng zhì chéng chéng
  • English Translation: Collective will forms a fortress (Unity is strength)
  • Idiom Composition: Many people or the massesWill, purpose, or determinationTo become or to formA city wall or fortress, symbolizing a solid defense
  • Meaning: A metaphor meaning that when many people are united in their purpose, their collective will becomes as strong and impregnable as a city wall. It describes the power of absolute solidarity to overcome any difficulty.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

众志成城 contains the following nuances:

  • The Strength of Unity: This idiom goes beyond simple cooperation; it emphasizes a strength that is 'physically indestructible,' comparing collective will to a massive stone fortification.
  • Defense and Overcoming: While the literal image is defensive (a wall), it is used in modern contexts to describe the proactive spirit needed to overcome external pressures, disasters, or hardships.
  • Scale of the Group: It is typically applied to large groups—such as a whole nation, a community, or an entire corporation—rather than just a few individuals.

3. Usage

众志成城 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Crisis & Disaster Response: Most commonly used as a slogan when a nation or community faces a major crisis like an earthquake, flood, or pandemic, emphasizing that the people are standing together.
    • Example:面对突如其来的疫情,全国人民众志成城,共同抗击病毒。
      Facing the sudden outbreak, the entire nation stood united as one to fight the virus together.
  • Team Building & Management: Used in corporate speeches or official documents to boost morale and encourage employees to work toward a common goal.
    • Example:只要大家众志成城,就没有完不成的任务。
      As long as everyone works with a single purpose, there is no task that cannot be completed.
  • Sports & Competition: Describes the unity of a sports team or the collective spirit of their supporters.
    • Example:队员们众志成城,终于在最后时刻逆转了比赛。
      The team members showed incredible solidarity and finally turned the game around in the final moments.

Additional Examples:

  1. 抗洪救灾期间,军民众志成城,保卫了家园。
    During the flood relief efforts, the military and the civilians united like a fortress to protect their homes.
  2. 这家公司能够度过破产危机,全靠员工们众志成城
    That the company was able to survive the bankruptcy crisis was entirely due to the employees standing firmly together.
  3. 我们要众志成城,把我们的国家建设得更加美好。
    We must unite our efforts to build our country into something even more beautiful.
  4. 虽然对手很强,但我们众志成城,一定能赢。
    Although the opponent is strong, we will surely win because we are solidly united.

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The idiom originates from the Discourses of the States (国语), specifically the section 'Zhou Yu' (周语下). It was originally part of a couplet: '众心成城,众口铄金' (zhòng xīn chéng chéng, zhòng kǒu shuò jīn).
  • The original couplet meant: 'When many hearts unite, they form a fortress; but when many mouths spread rumors, they can even melt gold.' While the second half warns about the terrifying power of public opinion or gossip, modern usage almost exclusively uses the first half, 众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng), as a positive slogan for patriotic unity and collective strength.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng) is a powerful and highly positive idiom used to describe how collective determination creates an unbreakable bond. It is frequently used as a rallying cry or slogan during national crises, natural disasters, or major corporate challenges to inspire resilience and a sense of shared destiny.

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