人多势众 (rén duō shì zhòng) — (idiom) many hands provide great strength; dominate by force of numbers

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to dominate by sheer numbers' — emphasizes the intimidating, strategic advantage of having many people on your side.

idiom
many hands provide great strengthdominate by force of numbers

Examples

  • ，人多势众，。
    Tā men suī rán shí lì yì bān, dàn rén duō shì zhòng, zuì hòu yíng le bǐ sài.
    Even though they were average in individual skill, they had strength in numbers and eventually won the match.
  • ，人多势众，。
    Zài zhè jiàn shì qing shàng, duì fāng rén duō shì zhòng, wǒ men zuì hǎo bú yào yìng pèng yìng.
    In this matter, the other side has the advantage of numbers, so we'd better not confront them head-on.
  • 人多势众，。
    rén duō shì zhòng Kě bú shì wéi yī de qǔ shèng zhī dào, cè lüè yě hěn zhòng yào.
    Relying on numerical strength is not the only way to win; strategy is also important.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

人多many people
人rénpeople多duōmany
主谓Subject + predicate
势众strong force
势shìpower众zhòngnumerous
主谓Subject + predicate

“人多” and “势众” combine many people with strong force.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →

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 →

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