每天成语
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千军万马

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: qiān jūn wàn mǎ
  • English Translation: A thousand armies and ten thousand horses (a massive force)
  • Idiom Composition: 「千」（A thousand; used here to signify a vast number.）＋「军」（Army or soldiers.）＋「万」（Ten thousand; used to signify an even greater, near-infinite number.）＋「马」（Horses, specifically warhorses in this military context.）
  • Meaning: Literally refers to a vast number of soldiers and warhorses; figuratively describes a massive crowd of people or an overwhelming, powerful momentum.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「千军万马」 contains the following nuances:

  • Overwhelming Scale: By combining 'thousand' and 'ten thousand,' the idiom emphasizes a scale so large it fills the field of vision and feels limitless.
  • Dynamic Momentum: Unlike a static crowd, this phrase describes a moving, powerful energy, similar to the unstoppable force of a charging cavalry.
  • Metaphorical Extension: While rooted in military imagery, it is widely applied to any situation involving massive numbers, such as students in an exam or the thunderous roar of a storm.

3. Usage

「千军万马」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Competition and Social Phenomena: A standard metaphor for situations where a massive number of people are competing for a very limited number of spots, such as the National College Entrance Exam (Gaokao) or civil service exams.
    • Example:「高考就像千军万马过独木桥，竞争异常激烈。」
      （The Gaokao is like a massive army crossing a single-log bridge; the competition is incredibly fierce.）
  • Natural Phenomena: Used to describe the roar and power of rushing water, storms, or waterfalls that sound like a charging army.
    • Example:「洪水如千军万马般奔腾而来，瞬间淹没了村庄。」
      （The flood came rushing in like a stampeding army, submerging the village in an instant.）
  • Military or Large-Scale Action: Describes historical battles or modern large-scale projects where a vast number of people move in unison.
    • Example:「指挥员一声令下，千军万马立刻向敌阵冲去。」
      （At the commander's order, the vast army immediately charged toward the enemy lines.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 面对千军万马般的压力，他依然保持着冷静。
    （Even facing overwhelming pressure, he remained calm.）
  2. 瀑布从高处落下，发出千军万马般的轰鸣声。
    （The waterfall tumbled from the heights, making a roar like a thousand stampeding horses.）
  3. 虽然只有几个人，但他们的气势简直抵得上千军万马。
    （Though there are only a few of them, their spirit is equal to a massive army.）
  4. 在这个瞬息万变的时代，信息流如千军万马般涌入我们的生活。
    （In this rapidly changing era, information flows into our lives like a surging tide.）
  5. 为了完成这项工程，工地上聚集了千军万马般的建设者。
    （To complete this project, a vast number of construction workers gathered at the site.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The phrase originates from the Book of Liang (诗经) in the biography of Chen Qingzhi (陈庆之), where it was famously said that even 'a thousand armies and ten thousand horses' would avoid the general in the white robe. It was originally used to praise the awe-inspiring dignity of a specific commander.
  • In modern Chinese society, the most common usage is the phrase 千军万马过独木桥 (qiān jūn wàn mǎ guò dú mù qiáo) — 'a thousand armies crossing a single-log bridge.' This has become the definitive metaphor for the intense competition of the National College Entrance Examination, or Gaokao (高考), where millions of students compete for limited university placements.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

千军万马 (qiān jūn wàn mǎ) is a powerful idiom used to describe scenes of immense scale and energy. While it literally depicts a grand army, it is most commonly used today to describe intense competition (such as national exams) or the thunderous power of nature (such as a waterfall or flood).

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