万马奔腾
万马奔腾 (wàn mǎ bēn téng) literally means “ten thousand horses galloping” and expresses “powerful unstoppable momentum”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wan ma ben teng, wan ma ben teng,万马奔腾 meaning, 万马奔腾 in english
Powerful unstoppable momentum
Pronunciation: wàn mǎ bēn téng
Literal meaning: Ten thousand horses galloping
Origin & Usage
This dynamic idiom envisions ten thousand (万) horses (马) galloping (奔腾) together, originating from Tang Dynasty military descriptions. It first appeared in chronicles describing the impressive cavalry forces of border generals, where the thundering hooves created both visual and auditory spectacle. During the Song Dynasty, poets expanded its usage to describe natural phenomena like powerful waterfalls or ocean waves. The hyperbolic number emphasized overwhelming scale and unstoppable momentum. Unlike terms for simple movement, it specifically evokes coordinated, powerful motion with earth-shaking impact. Modern usage describes any massive, dynamic movement - from market trends to social movements - suggesting both scale and unstoppable collective energy.
Examples
English: "After the announcement, the stock market surged with unprecedented trading volume"
Chinese: 公告发布后，股市以前所未有的交易量飙升
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 万马奔腾 mean in English?
万马奔腾 (wàn mǎ bēn téng) literally translates to “Ten thousand horses galloping” and is used to express “Powerful unstoppable momentum”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 万马奔腾 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving powerful unstoppable momentum.
What is the pinyin for 万马奔腾?
The pinyin pronunciation for 万马奔腾 is “wàn mǎ bēn téng”.