众口 (zhòng kǒu) — public opinion; what everyone says; (in fixed expressions) everyone's voice

Definition

Literally 'many mouths' — refers to what the public or everyone collectively says (public opinion, everyone's voice). Used almost only in set phrases like 众口难调 and 众口一词.

noun
public opinionwhat everyone says(in fixed expressions) everyone's voice

Examples

  • ，。
    zhòng kǒu Yì cí, dà jiā dōu shuō zhè bù diàn yǐng hěn hǎo kàn.
    Everyone says the same thing — they all say this movie is very good.
  • 众口，。
    zhòng kǒu Nán tiáo, měi gè rén de kǒu wèi dōu bù yí yàng.
    It's hard to please everyone — each person has different tastes.
  • 众口，。
    Miàn duì zhòng kǒu, tā xuǎn zé le chén mò.
    Facing public opinion, he chose to remain silent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

众zhòngmany
口kǒumouth

Many 口, or mouths, together stand for public opinion.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 眾; 众 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 眾 shows three people under a sun-like shape, meaning a crowd gathered under the sun; the simplified 众 is a later shorthand.

Open 众 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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