众所周知

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī
• English Translation: As everyone knows (well-known)
• Idiom Composition: 「众」（The masses or many people）＋「所」（A particle used before a verb to indicate the object of the action）＋「周」（Universally or all around）＋「知」（To know or be aware of）
• Meaning: A formal expression indicating that a fact or situation is widely known by the general public or everyone present. It is frequently used as an introductory phrase when stating objective facts.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「众所周知」 contains the following nuances:

• Emphasizing Objectivity: By framing a statement as something "everyone knows" rather than a personal opinion, the speaker increases the perceived objectivity and authority of their following remarks.
• Establishing Shared Ground: It serves to confirm a common understanding—essentially saying "this is common sense that requires no further explanation"—before diving into more complex topics.

3. Usage

「众所周知」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Introductions in speeches or essays: Placed at the beginning of a sentence to present a fact that serves as the premise for an argument.
  • Example:「众所周知，吸烟有害健康。」
    （As everyone knows, smoking is harmful to health.）
• Emphasizing a public fact: Used as a predicate to emphasize that a matter is not a secret but a matter of public record.
  • Example:「这家公司的财务危机已经是众所周知的事情了。」
    （This company's financial crisis is already common knowledge.）

Additional Examples:

1. 众所周知，水在零度以下会结冰。
   （As is well known, water freezes below zero degrees.）
2. 他在那个领域的成就是众所周知的。
   （His achievements in that field are widely recognized.）
3. 众所周知，中国是世界上人口最多的国家之一。
   （As everyone knows, China is one of the most populous countries in the world.）
4. 这是一个众所周知的秘密。
   （This is an open secret.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Register: While it can be used in daily conversation, 众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) is a somewhat formal expression preferred in news broadcasts, speeches, academic papers, and business documents.
• Logical Structure: In Chinese argumentative writing, it is a standard technique to use this idiom to present an indisputable fact, thereby building a solid foundation for the writer's own perspective.
• Literary Origin: While examples of this phrase appear in Qing Dynasty novels like Yu Jiao Li (玉娇梨), its modern usage is so ubiquitous that it functions more as a practical linguistic tool than a classical allusion.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo): Literally 'known to every house and every door'; refers to something that is a household name.link
  • 人尽皆知 (rén jìn jiē zhī): Known by everyone; a slightly more colloquial synonym for 众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī).
  • 有目共睹 (yǒu mù gòng dǔ): It means something is obvious and can be seen by everyone.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 鲜为人知 (xiǎn wéi rén zhī): Rarely known by people; obscure or little-known.
  • 闻所未闻 (wén suǒ wèi wén): Unheard of; something so rare or strange that one has never heard of it before.
  • 不为人知 (bù wéi rén zhī): Not known by others.link
  • 不得而知 (bù dé ér zhī): Unable to know or ascertain.link

6. Summary

众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) is a formal idiom meaning "as is known to all." It is most practically used as a fixed introductory phrase, "众所周知, ..." (As everyone knows, ...), to present common knowledge or objective facts at the start of a speech or article. By establishing a universally accepted truth as a premise, it enhances the persuasiveness of the speaker's subsequent points.