千篇一律
千篇一律 (qiān piān yī lǜ) literally means “thousand pieces one pattern” and expresses “lack of originality”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: qian pian yi lv, qian pian yi lv,千篇一律 meaning, 千篇一律 in english
Lack of originality
Pronunciation: qiān piān yī lǜ Literal meaning: Thousand pieces one pattern
Origin & Usage
A thousand (千) pieces (篇) to one (一) pattern (律). 律 is the load-bearing character — a rule, a fixed measure, the pitch standard in music — so what is being described is not similarity but conformity to a template. The phrase began as literary criticism, aimed at writers whose considerable output turned out to be one poem written many times, and it has spread to buildings, curricula and product design. It is always hostile, and the accusation is specifically that the sameness was a choice.
Examples
English: "His writing style is so repetitive that it feels like reading the same thing over and over again."
Chinese: 他的写作风格千篇一律，让人觉得读的都是同样的内容。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
千钧一发
qiān jūn yī fà
Extreme danger
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一落千丈
yī luò qiān zhàng
Rapid decline
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一饭千金
yī fàn qiān jīn
Repay small kindness lavishly
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一诺千金
yī nuò qiān jīn
Keep promises faithfully
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一字千金
yī zì qiān jīn
Invaluable writing
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千变万化
qiān biàn wàn huà
Ever-changing; constantly varying
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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千山万水
qiān shān wàn shuǐ
A long and arduous journey
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 千篇一律 mean in English?
千篇一律 (qiān piān yī lǜ) literally translates to “Thousand pieces one pattern” and is used to express “Lack of originality”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 千篇一律 used?
Situation: His writing style is so repetitive that it feels like reading the same thing over and over again.
What is the pinyin for 千篇一律?
The pinyin pronunciation for 千篇一律 is “qiān piān yī lǜ”.