CHENGYU
千军万马(qiān jūn wàn mǎ)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, vivid
- Source:
- 《南史·陈庆之传》
MEANING
- Literal
- a thousand armies and ten thousand horses
- Figurative meaning
- a mighty host; overwhelming force
ORIGIN STORY
The History of the Southern Dynasties tells of general Chen Qingzhi in white robes: "No famous general or great army could hold their ground — a thousand troops and ten thousand horses fled before the white robe." The phrase paints vast armed might.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“a vast host”
EXAMPLES
洪水像千军万马一样冲了过来。Hóngshuǐ xiàng qiān jūn wàn mǎ yíyàng chōng le guòlái.HSK6
The flood charged in like a thousand armies and ten thousand horses.
将军率领千军万马，保卫国家。Jiāngjūn shuàilǐng qiān jūn wàn mǎ, bǎowèi guójiā.HSK6
The general led a mighty host to defend the country.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It describes great mass and force — also used of crowds, floods, noise — not only literal armies.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01