众矢之的 (zhòng shǐ zhī dì) — target of public criticism or censure

Definition

Literally 'target of many arrows' — a set phrase meaning a person or group that everyone criticizes or attacks at the same time.

noun

target of public criticism or censure

，众矢之的。
Yīn wèi nà ge chǒu wén, tā chéng le zhòng shǐ zhī dì.
Because of that scandal, he became the target of public criticism.
，众矢之的。
Gǎi gé fāng àn yì gōng bù, zhèng fǔ jiù biàn chéng le zhòng shǐ zhī dì.
As soon as the reform plan was announced, the government became the target of public censure.
，众矢之的。
Nà wèi xué zhě fā biǎo zhēng yì guān diǎn hòu, lì kè chéng wéi zhòng shǐ zhī dì.
After that scholar published controversial views, he immediately became the target of public criticism.

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.

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

矢's shape is an old picture of an arrow. The arrow is easier to see in older forms than in the modern 矢.

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

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

白勺的

Meaning part形符xíngfú

白白báiwhite

Sound part声符shēngfú

勺

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.