汗牛充栋
汗牛充栋 (hàn niú chōng dòng) literally means “sweat ox fill house” and expresses “vast amount of knowledge”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: han niu chong dong, han niu chong dong,汗牛充栋 meaning, 汗牛充栋 in english
Vast amount of knowledge
Pronunciation: hàn niú chōng dòng
Literal meaning: Sweat ox fill house
Origin & Usage
Originally describing the vast quantity of books that would make an ox sweat (汗牛) from carrying them and fill (充) entire buildings (栋), this Tang Dynasty idiom emerged from descriptions of imperial libraries and private collections. The metaphor of sweating oxen straining under loads of books and buildings packed with texts emphasized both the physical mass of classical learning and its overwhelming scope. It gained particular currency during the Song Dynasty's revival of learning, when private libraries began to rival imperial collections. The phrase appears in numerous scholars' descriptions of famous collections, including those of the Yongle Encyclopedia project. Contemporary usage describes any impressive collection or body of work, particularly in academic or cultural contexts, emphasizing both quantity and quality.
Examples
English: "The professor's research publications filled entire library shelves"
Chinese: 教授的研究著作充满了整个图书馆的书架
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 汗牛充栋 mean in English?
汗牛充栋 (hàn niú chōng dòng) literally translates to “Sweat ox fill house” and is used to express “Vast amount of knowledge”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 汗牛充栋 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving vast amount of knowledge.
What is the pinyin for 汗牛充栋?
The pinyin pronunciation for 汗牛充栋 is “hàn niú chōng dòng”.