📖 Meaning
Literally meaning "many ears and eyes," this idiom describes a situation where one is surrounded by many observers or informers. It often refers specifically to numerous spies, scouts, or people gathering intelligence on someone's behalf. It conveys the sense that secrecy is difficult because too many people are watching and listening.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in Qing dynasty literature, notably in Shi Kunyu's "The Three Heroes and the Five Gallants" (三侠五义), chapter sixteen, where a character remarks that at the moment there are too many eyes and ears, so leaking information would be truly inconvenient. It is also found in Li Lüyuan's "The Record of the Road to Qiulin" (歧路灯), chapter fifty-two, where a character urges another to leave through the back gate because the streets are full of watchers. These literary uses established it as a standard expression for being under heavy surveillance.
💡 Example Usage
此处耳目众多，我们还是换个地方再细谈吧。
There are too many eyes and ears here; let's find somewhere else to talk in detail.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 耳目众多
- Pinyin: ěr mù zhòng duō
- Literal Translation: ears, eyes, many, numerous
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4