比比皆是

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bǐ bǐ jiē shì
• English Translation: To be found everywhere, ubiquitous, too many to count
• Idiom Composition: 「比」（To compare, to line up）＋「比」（To compare, to line up）＋「皆」（All, every）＋「是」（This, that）
• Meaning: Describes something that exists in great quantity and can be found everywhere. It implies an innumerable amount.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「比比皆是」 contains the following nuances:

• Universality: Emphasizes that a phenomenon or thing exists widely and generally, not limited to a specific place or range.
• Abundance: Suggests not just 'many' but an uncountable or too numerous to list quantity.
• Easy to find: Sometimes implies that the items are easy to notice or find without searching.

3. Usage

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

• Describing universal phenomena: Used to explain that a phenomenon is common or widespread.
  • Example:「在大城市，高层建筑比比皆是。」
    （In big cities, high-rise buildings are found everywhere.）
• Listing numerous things: Used to emphasize the existence of a large number of things.
  • Example:「这个公园里，各种各样的花草树木比比皆是。」
    （In this park, various kinds of flowers, grasses, and trees are everywhere.）
• Pointing out problems or flaws: Also used to point out the presence of many negative issues.
  • Example:「这家餐厅的服务问题比比皆是，需要改进。」
    （This restaurant has service problems in abundance, and improvements are needed.）

Additional Examples:

1. 在这个市场上，假冒伪劣商品比比皆是，消费者要提高警惕。
   （In this market, counterfeit and inferior goods are everywhere, so consumers need to be vigilant.）
2. 春天来了，公园里盛开的鲜花比比皆是，美不胜收。
   （Spring has arrived, and the park is filled with blooming flowers everywhere, a breathtaking sight.）
3. 他的演讲中，生动的例子比比皆是，让听众印象深刻。
   （His speech was full of vivid examples throughout, leaving a deep impression on the audience.）
4. 在这个行业，成功的案例比比皆是，只要你努力，就一定能有所成就。
   （In this industry, successful cases are plentiful, and as long as you work hard, you will surely achieve results.）
5. 网络上，虚假信息比比皆是，我们要注意甄别。
   （On the internet, false information is widespread, so we must be careful to discern it.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin of '比': The character '比' originally depicted people standing side by side and developed the meanings 'to line up' or 'to compare.' Repeating it as '比比' emphasizes a large quantity.
• Emphasis of '皆是': '皆是' means 'all are so,' and combined with '比比,' it expresses universality, indicating that something is found everywhere without exception.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 触目皆是 (chù mù jiē shì): Everything visible to the eye is like that.
  • 满目皆是 (mǎn mù jiē shì): Everything in sight is like that.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 寥寥无几 (liáo liáo wú jǐ): Very few in number.
  • 凤毛麟角 (fèng máo lín jiǎo): Extremely rare.

6. Summary

'比比皆是' is an idiom that describes something existing in great quantity and found everywhere. It is used not only to indicate abundance but also to emphasize universality and the vast number of occurrences. Using this idiom effectively can add vividness to your writing.