众口铄金
众口铄金 (zhòng kǒu shuò jīn) literally means “many mouths melt gold” and expresses “public opinion is powerful”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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Public opinion is powerful
Pronunciation: zhòng kǒu shuò jīn
Literal meaning: Many mouths melt gold
Origin & Usage
This powerful metaphor suggests that numerous (众) mouths (口) speaking together can melt (铄) even gold (金). Originating in the Han Dynasty, it reflects the ancient Chinese understanding of public opinion's force. The image of collective voices generating enough heat to melt precious metal dramatically illustrates how widespread discussion can reshape even seemingly unalterable truths. Historical texts show its use in political discourse, warning rulers about the power of public sentiment. Modern applications emphasize how persistent public opinion can transform established reputations or challenge seemingly immutable facts.
Examples
English: "The social media campaign succeeded in changing the company's policy"
Chinese: 社交媒体运动成功改变了公司的政策
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 众口铄金 mean in English?
众口铄金 (zhòng kǒu shuò jīn) literally translates to “Many mouths melt gold” and is used to express “Public opinion is powerful”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 众口铄金 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving public opinion is powerful.
What is the pinyin for 众口铄金?
The pinyin pronunciation for 众口铄金 is “zhòng kǒu shuò jīn”.