耳熟能详

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: ěr shú néng xiáng
• English Translation: What one hears frequently and can describe in detail (well-known)
• Idiom Composition: 「耳」（Ear (referring to the act of hearing)）＋「熟」（Familiar or well-acquainted with）＋「能」（To be able to; can）＋「详」（To explain in detail or know thoroughly）
• Meaning: To have heard something so many times that one is intimately familiar with it and can explain or recite the details from memory.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「耳熟能详」 contains the following nuances:

• Accumulation of Auditory Experience: As the character 耳 (ěr) suggests, this idiom specifically refers to knowledge gained through repeated hearing—such as stories, music, or oral traditions—rather than just reading.
• The Ability to Recount: The character 详 (xiáng) is crucial; it emphasizes that the person doesn't just recognize the topic but knows it well enough to explain the details or recite it.

3. Usage

「耳熟能详」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Famous stories or songs: Used for classics, popular songs, or legends that everyone has heard many times.
  • Example:「《西游记》的故事在中国可谓是家喻户晓，耳熟能详。」
    （The stories from Journey to the West (西游记) are household names in China and well-known to everyone.）
• Specific people or topics: Used for names or subjects that are frequently discussed within a specific community or industry.
  • Example:「对于篮球迷来说，迈克尔·乔丹这个名字早已耳熟能详。」
    （For basketball fans, the name Michael Jordan has long been a household name.）
• Slogans or quotes: Describes how repetitive advertisements or famous maxims become common knowledge.
  • Example:「这句广告词大家都耳熟能详，甚至连小孩子都会背。」
    （Everyone is so familiar with this advertising slogan that even children can recite it.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这些耳熟能详的老歌，勾起了我对童年的回忆。
   （These well-known old songs brought back memories of my childhood.）
2. 虽然这个理论在学术界耳熟能详，但普通大众对此知之甚少。
   （While this theory is common knowledge in academia, the general public knows very little about it.）
3. 我们要把这些晦涩难懂的政策，变成老百姓耳熟能详的语言。
   （We need to turn these obscure policies into language that is familiar and easy to understand for the common people.）
4. 提到他的名字，在这个小镇上可以说是耳熟能详。
   （Mention his name, and you'll find it is known by everyone in this small town.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The idiom originates from the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋) statesman and writer Ouyang Xiu (欧阳修) in his work Shuanggang Qianbiao (泷冈阡表). He wrote that because he had heard his mother speak of his late father's integrity so often, he was able to record the details accurately.
• Unlike general fame, this term emphasizes 'retention through repetition.' It is rarely used for news or events that one has only encountered once.
• In modern Chinese, it functions as an adjective describing a state of familiarity. It is typically used in the pattern 对 (duì) [Subject] 耳熟能详 or [Subject] 是 (shì) 耳熟能详的.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo): Known to every household; widely known.link
  • 耳濡目染 (ěr rú mù rǎn): To be unconsciously influenced by what one frequently hears and sees.
  • 众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī): As everyone knows.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 前所未闻 (qián suǒ wèi wén): Unheard of; completely new and rare.
  • 寡闻少见 (guǎ wén shǎo jiàn): Having limited experience and very little knowledge.
  • 一无所知 (yī wú suǒ zhī): To know nothing at all.link
  • 不得而知 (bù dé ér zhī): Unable to know or ascertain.link

6. Summary

耳熟能详 (ěr shú néng xiáng) describes a state where a story, song, name, or slogan has been heard so often that it is deeply ingrained in one's mind. It implies a level of familiarity that goes beyond simple recognition, suggesting the person can recount the specifics because they have heard them repeatedly. It is most commonly used in the pattern 对...耳熟能详 (to be intimately familiar with...).