五花八门(五花八門)
五花八门 (wǔ huā bā mén) literally means “five flowers and eight gates”and expresses “a bewildering variety; all kinds of”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: wu hua ba men, wu hua ba men,五花八门 meaning, 五花八门 in english
Pronunciation: wǔ huā bā mén Literal meaning: Five flowers and eight gates
Origin & Usage
This idiom has roots in ancient Chinese military strategy, where 'five flowers' (五花) referred to five tactical formations and 'eight gates' (八门) to eight strategic positions. The phrase originally described the complexity of battlefield tactics. Over time, it evolved to describe any diverse or varied collection. Some scholars also trace it to the five-element theory and eight trigrams of Chinese philosophy. In modern usage, it describes a wide variety of things, often with a connotation of being overwhelming or confusingly diverse.
When to Use
Situation: The market offers a bewildering variety of products.
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
匠心独运
jiàng xīn dú yùn
Apply creative genius; show ingenuity
Learn more →
独具匠心
dú jù jiàng xīn
Show great ingenuity; have original design
Learn more →
别具一格
bié jù yī gé
Have unique style; be distinctive
Learn more →
独树一帜
dú shù yī zhì
Be unique; have distinctive style
Learn more →
出神入化
chū shén rù huà
Reach supernatural skill level
Learn more →
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
Learn more →
驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
Learn more →
轻车熟路
qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 五花八门 mean in English?
五花八门 (wǔ huā bā mén) literally translates to “Five flowers and eight gates”and is used to express “A bewildering variety; all kinds of”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theLife Philosophy category..
When is 五花八门 used?
Situation: The market offers a bewildering variety of products.
What is the pinyin for 五花八门?
The pinyin pronunciation for 五花八门 is “wǔ huā bā mén”.
Curated Lists Featuring 五花八门
8 Lucky Chinese Idioms With Number Eight (八)
Explore auspicious Chinese idioms featuring eight (八), the luckiest number in Chinese culture.
8 Chinese Idioms With the Number Five (五)
Chinese idioms featuring the number five - representing the five elements, five senses, and natural completeness.
10 Complete Chinese Idioms With the Number Ten (十)
Chinese idioms featuring the number ten - representing perfection, completeness, and absolute certainty.