📖 Meaning
Found everywhere in great abundance; extremely common and widespread. It describes phenomena or things that occur so frequently they are ubiquitous. It is equivalent to the idiom 比比皆是.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from the Qing dynasty novel 'Sui Tang Yanyi' (Romance of Sui and Tang) by Chu Renhuo, Chapter 53. The passage describes a deteriorating military situation in which generals lack the will to hold their ground and soldiers lack the courage to fight to the death. The author notes that people naturally tend to pursue their own interests — and this is the case everywhere (比比皆然). The idiom thus captures the observation that such behavior is universal and commonplace rather than exceptional.
💡 Example Usage
历史上因骄傲自满而失败的例子比比皆然。
Throughout history, examples of failure caused by arrogance and complacency are found everywhere.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 比比皆然
- Pinyin: bǐ bǐ jiē rán
- Literal Translation: everywhere, everywhere, all, thus
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4