比比皆是

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bǐ bǐ jiē shì
• English Translation: Can be found everywhere (ubiquitous)
• Idiom Composition: 「比比」（Frequently, everywhere, or one after another (used here as a reduplicated intensifier)）＋「皆」（All; every）＋「是」（To be; is (functioning here to affirm the state of existence)）
• Meaning: A state where certain things or phenomena are extremely numerous and can be seen everywhere. It implies that something is commonplace and lacks rarity.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「比比皆是」 contains the following nuances:

• Overwhelming Ubiquity: By combining 比比 (bǐ bǐ), meaning 'everywhere,' and 皆 (jiē), meaning 'all,' the phrase emphasizes that something exists across the board without exception.
• The Absence of Rarity: It suggests that the subject is not rare at all and can be found immediately without searching, highlighting its ordinary nature.

3. Usage

「比比皆是」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Social Phenomena and Trends: Used to point out that a certain behavior or phenomenon has become widespread in society. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts.
  • Example:「如今，在大城市里拥有两部手机的人比比皆是。」
    （Nowadays, people who own two mobile phones are commonplace in big cities.）
• Pointing Out Problems (Negative): Frequently used to critically describe situations where errors, defects, or misconduct occur frequently.
  • Example:「这篇文章写得很草率，语法错误比比皆是。」
    （This article was written very carelessly, and grammatical errors are found everywhere.）
• Abundance of Talent or Resources: Describes a situation where people with specific skills or certain resources are available in great numbers.
  • Example:「在这所顶尖大学里，精通三门外语的学生比比皆是。」
    （In this top-tier university, students who are proficient in three foreign languages are a dime a dozen.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这种廉价的塑料玩具在夜市上比比皆是。
   （These kinds of cheap plastic toys are found everywhere at the night market.）
2. 像他这样为了利益背叛朋友的人，现实生活中比比皆是。
   （People like him who betray their friends for profit are all too common in real life.）
3. 成功的例子虽然有，但失败的案例更是比比皆是。
   （While there are success stories, examples of failure are even more ubiquitous.）
4. 网络上的虚假信息比比皆是，大家要学会辨别。
   （Fake news is rife on the internet, so everyone must learn how to distinguish truth from lies.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origins and Evolution: This expression can be traced back to classical texts such as the Strategies of the Warring States (战国策) and the Records of the Grand Historian (史记). The term 比比 (bǐ bǐ) evolved from meaning 'side-by-side' or 'continuous' to its modern sense of 'frequent' or 'ubiquitous.'
• Nuance Note: While it literally means 'plentiful,' it is more often used to mean 'commonplace' or 'ordinary' rather than 'abundant and wonderful.' It is a particularly useful phrase when you want to imply that something is so common it has lost its novelty or is even excessive.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 俯拾皆是 (fǔ shí jiē shì): So numerous that they can be picked up just by leaning over; extremely common.
  • 多如牛毛 (duō rú niú máo): As numerous as the hairs on an ox (usually used for negative or trivial things).
  • 司空见惯 (sī kōng jiàn guàn): Commonly seen, nothing unusual.link
  • 不计其数 (bù jì qí shù): Too many to count.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 寥寥无几 (liáo liáo wú jǐ): Very few; so few they can be counted on one's fingers.link
  • 凤毛麟角 (fèng máo lín jiǎo): Like phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; extremely rare and precious.
  • 百里挑一 (bǎi lǐ tiāo yī): One in a hundred; outstanding.link

6. Summary

The idiom 比比皆是 (bǐ bǐ jiē shì) is used to describe things that are 'ubiquitous' or 'all over the place.' Beyond just indicating a large quantity, it carries a strong nuance of being so common that it is no longer special. It is frequently used in formal writing or news reports to point out social trends, criticize frequent mistakes, or describe an abundance of resources.