不约而同

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bù yuē ér tóng
• English Translation: Coincidentally, without prior agreement, acting or thinking alike by chance
• Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not）＋「约」（To agree, to arrange）＋「而」（And (connects clauses)）＋「同」（To be the same, to be alike）
• Meaning: When actions or opinions coincide without prior agreement or arrangement. It describes a coincidental agreement or conformity due to implicit understanding.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不约而同」 contains the following nuances:

• Coincidence: Refers to multiple people or things coincidentally taking the same action or reaching the same state, despite no prior arrangement.
• Implicit understanding: Means understanding each other's thoughts and intentions without verbal communication, resulting in similar actions.
• Shared understanding: Describes a situation where many people have a shared understanding of a certain situation or problem and naturally react in a similar way.

3. Usage

「不约而同」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Coincidence of actions: Used to describe multiple people taking the same action without prior arrangement.
  • Example:「听到这个消息，大家不约而同地鼓起掌来。」
    （Hearing this news, everyone coincidentally applauded.）
• Coincidence of opinions: Describes multiple people having the same opinion or idea without discussion or consultation.
  • Example:「在这个问题上，我们不约而同地选择了支持他。」
    （On this issue, we coincidentally chose to support him.）
• Coincidence of states: Refers to multiple things coincidentally reaching the same state.
  • Example:「两家公司的产品在设计上不约而同地采用了相同的风格。」
    （The products of the two companies coincidentally adopted the same design style.）

Additional Examples:

1. 散会后，大家不约而同地走进了那家新开的餐厅。
   （After the meeting, everyone coincidentally walked into the newly opened restaurant.）
2. 听到这个笑话，他们不约而同地大笑起来。
   （Hearing this joke, they coincidentally burst into laughter.）
3. 在危急关头，战士们不约而同地冲了上去。
   （At the critical moment, the soldiers coincidentally charged forward.）
4. 看到这一幕，观众们不约而同地站了起来，报以热烈的掌声。
   （Seeing this scene, the audience coincidentally stood up and gave a warm round of applause.）
5. 尽管来自不同的国家，他们在环保问题上却不约而同地表达了相同的观点。
   （Despite coming from different countries, they coincidentally expressed the same views on environmental issues.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, '默契' (mò qì), or tacit understanding, is highly valued. '不约而同' can be seen as a form of this tacit understanding.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 异口同声 (yì kǒu tóng shēng): With one voice, everyone speaking in unison.
  • 不谋而合 (bù móu ér hé): To agree without prior consultation.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 各行其是 (gè xíng qí shì): Each doing things in their own way.
  • 南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé): Actions contradicting one's intentions, going in opposite directions.

6. Summary

'不约而同' is a profound idiom that goes beyond mere coincidence, expressing the tacit understanding ('默契') and shared understanding that exists among people. By understanding this cultural background, you can use this idiom to create richer and more meaningful expressions.