万马奔腾(萬馬奔騰)

Pronunciation: wàn mǎ bēn téng Literal meaning: Ten thousand horses galloping

Origin & Usage

This dynamic idiom envisions ten thousand (万) horses (马) galloping (奔腾) together, originating from Tang Dynasty military descriptions. It first appeared in chronicles describing the impressive cavalry forces of border generals, where the thundering hooves created both visual and auditory spectacle. During the Song Dynasty, poets expanded its usage to describe natural phenomena like powerful waterfalls or ocean waves. The hyperbolic number emphasized overwhelming scale and unstoppable momentum. Unlike terms for simple movement, it specifically evokes coordinated, powerful motion with earth-shaking impact. Modern usage describes any massive, dynamic movement - from market trends to social movements - suggesting both scale and unstoppable collective energy.

When to Use

Situation: After the announcement, the stock market surged with unprecedented trading volume

---

Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.