齐心协力

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qí xīn xié lì
• English Translation: To work together with one heart (concerted effort)
• Idiom Composition: 「齐」（To align or make uniform (referring to the group's mindset).）＋「心」（Heart or mind (the internal will of the participants).）＋「协」（To cooperate or join together.）＋「力」（Strength or physical effort.）
• Meaning: A group of people aligning their thoughts and goals to work together toward a common objective. It emphasizes both mental unity and physical cooperation.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「齐心协力」 contains the following nuances:

• Mental Unity: 齐心 (qí xīn) refers to a state where every member's thoughts and intentions are aligned in the same direction rather than being scattered.
• Active Cooperation: 协力 (xié lì) means more than just thinking alike; it involves the actual contribution of physical strength and resources to take action.
• Collective Power: This expression emphasizes the strength of the group or team as a whole, rather than the brilliance of any single individual.

3. Usage

「齐心协力」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Teamwork and Projects: Used in workplaces or schools to inspire members toward a common goal or to praise their collective effort.
  • Example:「只要大家齐心协力，就没有克服不了的困难。」
    （As long as everyone works together with one heart, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome.）
• Disaster Response and Emergencies: Frequently used in formal contexts to describe a community or nation uniting to face a crisis or disaster.
  • Example:「面对突如其来的疫情，全国人民齐心协力，共渡难关。」
    （In the face of the sudden epidemic, the whole nation pulled together to overcome the crisis.）
• Sports and Competition: Used as a slogan for teams or to analyze the reason for a victory in team sports.
  • Example:「队员们齐心协力，终于在最后时刻反超了比分。」
    （The teammates made a concerted effort and finally staged a comeback in the final moments.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这项工程浩大，需要各部门齐心协力才能完成。
   （This project is massive and can only be completed if all departments work in unison.）
2. 让我们齐心协力，把公司建设得更好。
   （Let us join forces to build a better company.）
3. 邻居们齐心协力，很快就扑灭了这场火灾。
   （Thanks to the neighbors working together, the fire was quickly extinguished.）
4. 要想赢得拔河比赛，必须齐心协力，劲往一处使。
   （To win a tug-of-war, you must act as one and focus your strength in a single direction.）
5. 全班同学齐心协力，把教室打扫得干干净净。
   （The whole class cooperated to clean every corner of the classroom.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Collectivist Values: In Chinese culture, there is a strong belief that 'unity is strength' (团结就是力量 - tuán jié jiù shì lì liàng). Harmony and cooperation within a group are often valued more highly than individual achievement.
• Usage as a Slogan: This phrase is frequently seen on school bulletin boards, corporate posters, and in public service announcements to inspire collective action.
• Nuance of Alignment: While similar to 同心协力 (tóng xīn xié lì), the character 齐 (qí) in this idiom specifically implies 'bringing things into alignment,' suggesting a sense of discipline and organized unity.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 同心协力 (tóng xīn xié lì): To work with one heart and joint effort; almost identical in meaning and often interchangeable.
  • 众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng): Unity of will is an impregnable fortress; emphasizes the immense power of a united group.link
  • 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì): To help each other in times of difficulty.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 貌合神离 (mào hé shén lí): Seemingly united but divided in spirit; appearing to get along while having different agendas.
  • 各行其是 (gè xíng qí shì): Each goes their own way; everyone doing what they think is right without coordinating with others.
  • 分崩离析 (fēn bēng lí xī): To break up and fall apart.link
  • 袖手旁观 (xiù shǒu páng guān): To stand by with folded arms, doing nothing to help.link

6. Summary

齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì) is a highly positive and common idiom used to describe collective effort. Whether in business, school, or emergency situations, it is the go-to phrase for encouraging teamwork or explaining the reason behind a group's success.