众矢之的
众矢之的 (zhòng shǐ zhī dì) literally means “target of many arrows” and expresses “target of public criticism”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: zhong shi zhi di, zhong shi zhi di,众矢之的 meaning, 众矢之的 in english
Target of public criticism
Pronunciation: zhòng shǐ zhī dì Literal meaning: Target of many arrows
Origin & Usage
The target (的) that many (众) arrows (矢) are aimed at. 的 is the bullseye — the same character that now does duty as the commonest particle in the language, which regularly surprises learners — and the phrase puts somebody on it. What it describes is not being criticised but being the agreed object of criticism, which is a different and lonelier position: the arrows come from people who are not otherwise coordinated. Public figures, and whoever has become the convenient explanation for a shared problem.
Examples
English: "As the whistleblower, she became the target of everyone's criticism."
Chinese: 作为举报人，她成了众矢之的。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Push far enough and it turns
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 众矢之的 mean in English?
众矢之的 (zhòng shǐ zhī dì) literally translates to “Target of many arrows” and is used to express “Target of public criticism”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 众矢之的 used?
Situation: As the whistleblower, she became the target of everyone's criticism.
What is the pinyin for 众矢之的?
The pinyin pronunciation for 众矢之的 is “zhòng shǐ zhī dì”.