众所周知

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī
• English Translation: As is well known, it is a well-known fact, everyone knows
• Idiom Composition: 「众」（Many people）＋「所」（That which is）＋「周」（Widely, universally）＋「知」（To know）
• Meaning: Something that is widely known by many people. It refers to a fact or matter that is generally known to the public.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「众所周知」 contains the following nuances:

• Universality: Emphasizes that something is widely recognized not only by a specific group but by society as a whole.
• Objectivity: Indicates that something is recognized as an objective fact rather than a personal opinion or speculation.
• Common knowledge: Can imply that something is so well-known that most people are expected to know it.

3. Usage

「众所周知」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Presenting facts: Used to indicate that a certain fact or matter is widely known.
  • Example:「众所周知，吸烟有害健康。」
    （As is well known, smoking is harmful to health.）
• Explaining premises: Used to present a widely known fact as a premise for a discussion or explanation.
  • Example:「众所周知，中国是世界上人口最多的国家，因此...」
    （As everyone knows, China is the most populous country in the world, therefore...）
• Emphasis: Can also be used to emphasize the importance of a certain fact or matter.
  • Example:「众所周知，保护环境刻不容缓。」
    （As everyone knows, environmental protection brooks no delay.）

Additional Examples:

1. 众所周知，水是生命之源。
   （As is well known, water is the source of life.）
2. 众所周知，这个政策已经实施了多年。
   （As everyone knows, this policy has been implemented for many years.）
3. 众所周知，他是一位著名的科学家。
   （As is well known, he is a famous scientist.）
4. 众所周知，这家公司以其优质的产品而闻名。
   （As everyone knows, this company is famous for its high-quality products.）
5. 众所周知，学习一门外语需要持之以恒的努力。
   （As is well known, learning a foreign language requires persistent effort.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Formation of consensus: In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on shared understanding and consensus, and '众所周知' reflects this tendency.
• Usage at the beginning of a sentence: '众所周知' is commonly used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce information that is generally known.
• Formal expression: '众所周知' is considered a formal or literary way to state that something is widely recognized.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 人尽皆知 (rén jìn jiē zhī): Known to everyone.
  • 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo): Widely known, known to every household.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 鲜为人知 (xiǎn wéi rén zhī): Little known.
  • 默默无闻 (mò mò wú wén): Unknown, obscure.

6. Summary

'众所周知' is a convenient idiom that concisely expresses widely known facts or matters. Using this idiom helps establish common ground with your audience, facilitating smooth discussions and explanations. Try incorporating it into your Chinese writing and conversations.