旁征博引

Pronunciation: páng zhēng bó yǐn Literal meaning: Extensively cite sources

Origin & Usage

The idiom 旁征博引 (páng zhēng bó yǐn) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe the practice of extensively citing various sources to support an argument. The phrase itself does not originate from a specific historical story but rather captures the scholarly approach of gathering a wide array of references. The characters 旁 (páng) mean 'broadly,' 征 (zhēng) means 'to seek,' 博 (bó) means 'extensive,' and 引 (yǐn) means 'to quote.' This idiom is often used to commend someone who demonstrates thorough research and a well-rounded argument, particularly in academic and literary contexts. In modern usage, it is frequently applied to describe scholars or speakers who skillfully incorporate diverse materials to enhance their credibility and persuasiveness.

Examples

English: "In his lecture, he drew on a wide range of sources to support his argument."

Chinese: 在他的讲座中，他旁征博引，引用了大量的资料来支持他的论点。