众所周知
众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) literally means “everyone completely knows” and expresses “as everyone knows or is widely recognized”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: zhong suo zhou zhi, zhong suo zhou zhi,众所周知 meaning, 众所周知 in english
As everyone knows or is widely recognized
Pronunciation: zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī Literal meaning: Everyone completely knows
Origin & Usage
What the many (众) all (周) know (所知). The phrase is doing rhetorical work rather than reporting a fact, which is worth noticing before using it: placing a claim inside 众所周知 asserts that it is settled and puts anyone who disagrees outside the group rather than inside the argument. Chinese official and commercial writing uses it constantly for exactly that reason, and a careful reader treats it as a signal to check what follows.
Examples
English: "It is widely accepted that regular exercise contributes to better health outcomes"
Chinese: 众所周知，经常锻炼有助于改善健康状况
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
一言既出
yī yán jì chū
A promise once made must be kept
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众望所归
zhòng wàng suǒ guī
Trusted leadership
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周而复始
zhōu ér fù shǐ
Endless cycle
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大公无私
dà gōng wú sī
Completely impartial without self-interest
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讳莫如深
huì mò rú shēn
Maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter
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滔滔不绝
tāo tāo bù jué
Talk endlessly; speak at great length
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争论不休
zhēng lùn bù xiū
Argue endlessly without resolution
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秋毫无犯
qiū háo wú fàn
Show strict discipline; not take anything
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 众所周知 mean in English?
众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) literally translates to “Everyone completely knows” and is used to express “As everyone knows or is widely recognized”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 众所周知 used?
Situation: It is widely accepted that regular exercise contributes to better health outcomes
What is the pinyin for 众所周知?
The pinyin pronunciation for 众所周知 is “zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī”.