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.
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
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Master something completely
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juǎn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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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: The professor's research publications filled entire library shelves
What is the pinyin for 汗牛充栋?
The pinyin pronunciation for 汗牛充栋 is “hàn niú chōng dòng”.
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