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: 「众」(Many people or the masses)
+ 「志」(Will, purpose, or determination) + 「成」(To become or to form) + 「城」(A 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.)
- Example:「面对突如其来的疫情,全国人民众志成城,共同抗击病毒。」
- 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.)
- Example:「只要大家众志成城,就没有完不成的任务。」
- 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.)
- Example:「队员们众志成城,终于在最后时刻逆转了比赛。」
Additional Examples:
- 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.) - 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.) - 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.) - 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
- Similar Idioms:
- 万众一心 (wàn zhòng yì xīn): Millions of people with one heart; total unity of the masses.
- 同心协力 (tóng xīn xié lì): To work together with one heart and shared effort.
- 齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì): To work together with one heart and one mind.link
- 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì): To help each other in times of difficulty.link
- Opposite Idioms:
- 一盘散沙 (yī pán sǎn shā): Like a tray of loose sand; a state of total lack of unity or organization.
- 四分五裂 (sì fēn wǔ liè): Rent asunder; falling apart or being fragmented into many pieces.
- 分崩离析 (fēn bēng lí xī): To break up and fall apart.link
- 袖手旁观 (xiù shǒu páng guān): To stand by with folded arms, doing nothing to help.link
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.
