📖 Meaning
Describes a dense, jostling crowd where people are packed so tightly that their shoulders press together and their feet are aligned side by side. It conveys the image of a throng so thick that individuals can barely move independently.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Ming dynasty writer Feng Menglong's collection 'Stories to Awaken the World' (醒世恒言), in the tale 'Scholar Qian Wrongly Takes the Phoenix Mate.' In the story, the Gao family's new son-in-law is renowned for his talent and handsome appearance. People from all the surrounding villages flock to catch a glimpse of him, crowding together so tightly—'挨肩并足'—that the scene is as lively as a temple festival procession.
💡 Example Usage
庙会那天，街上行人挨肩并足，热闹极了。
On the day of the temple fair, the streets were packed shoulder to shoulder with people, incredibly lively.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 挨肩并足
- Pinyin: āi jiān bìng zú
- Literal Translation: rub, shoulder, side by side, foot
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4