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
众口铄金
zhòng kǒu shuò jīn
Repeated by enough people, a falsehood passes for truth
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众说纷纭
zhòng shuō fēn yún
Diverse opinions
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众志成城
zhòng zhì chéng chéng
Unity creates strength
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众所周知
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī
As everyone knows or is widely recognized
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与众不同
yǔ zhòng bù tóng
Unique; distinctive
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众望所归
zhòng wàng suǒ guī
Trusted leadership
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当务之急
dāng wù zhī jí
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
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惊弓之鸟
jīng gōng zhī niǎo
Fear from past trauma
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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”.