成千上万

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: chéng qiān shàng wàn
• English Translation: An enormous number, countless, too many to count
• Idiom Composition: 「成」（To reach）＋「千」（Thousand）＋「上」（Exceed）＋「万」（Ten thousand）
• Meaning: Indicates an extremely large quantity, reaching thousands or tens of thousands, so many that they cannot be counted.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「成千上万」 contains the following nuances:

• Overwhelming quantity: Not just a large number, but an overwhelming amount that astonishes observers.
• Innumerable: Emphasizes that the quantity is too large to be counted, rather than specifying an exact number.
• Exaggeration: Sometimes used as an exaggeration to emphasize large quantity, even if the actual number is less than thousands or tens of thousands.

3. Usage

「成千上万」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing quantity: Used to express that the number of people, objects, or events is extremely large.
  • Example:「成千上万的游客涌向了这个著名的旅游景点。」
    （Countless tourists flocked to this famous tourist attraction.）
• Emphatic expression: Used to emphasize the scale or impact of something.
  • Example:「他的作品受到了成千上万读者的喜爱。」
    （His works are loved by thousands upon thousands of readers.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这个市场上的商品琳琅满目，成千上万种，让人眼花缭乱。
   （The market is filled with a dazzling array of goods, with countless varieties that overwhelm the eyes.）
2. 成千上万的志愿者参与了这次环保活动。
   （Thousands upon thousands of volunteers participated in this environmental protection activity.）
3. 成千上万的候鸟每年都会飞往南方过冬。
   （Countless migratory birds fly south every year to spend the winter.）
4. 每年都有成千上万的人参加马拉松比赛。
   （Every year, thousands upon thousands of people participate in marathon races.）
5. 这次地震造成了成千上万的人无家可归。
   （This earthquake left thousands upon thousands of people homeless.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Culture of exaggeration: In Chinese, exaggeration is often used to emphasize the degree of something. '成千上万' is one such expression, where the nuance of vast quantity is more important than the literal meaning.
• Not used with specific numbers: '成千上万' is not used together with exact numerical values.
• Usage in spoken and written language: It can be used in both spoken and written contexts, though it is somewhat more formal or literary. In spoken language, expressions like '很多' (very many) are often used instead.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 不计其数 (bù jì qí shù): Too many to count.
  • 成百上千 (chéng bǎi shàng qiān): A large number reaching hundreds or thousands.
  • 数不胜数 (shǔ bù shèng shǔ): Countless, too many to enumerate.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 寥寥无几 (liáo liáo wú jǐ): Very few, only a handful.
  • 屈指可数 (qū zhǐ kě shǔ): So few they can be counted on fingers.

6. Summary

'成千上万' is a powerful idiom used to express an overwhelming quantity. Understanding the culture of exaggeration in Chinese and avoiding its use with specific numbers are important points to keep in mind. Using this idiom effectively will enrich your Chinese expression and make it more vivid.