📖 Meaning
Describes a situation where many people speak with one voice, unanimously expressing the same opinion. It conveys complete agreement among a group, as if all mouths are uttering identical words simultaneously.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom combines 交口 (crossing mouths, meaning many people speaking together) and 同声 (same voice or sound). While no single classical source is recorded as its definitive origin, it emerged from the natural Chinese literary tradition of compounding phrases to describe unanimous speech. The expression reflects the ancient cultural value placed on collective consensus and the power of unified public opinion in Chinese society.
💡 Example Usage
邻居们交口同声地称赞那位消防员的英勇行为。
The neighbors all spoke in unison, praising the firefighter's heroic actions.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 交口同声
- Pinyin: jiāo kǒu tóng shēng
- Literal Translation: cross, mouth, same, voice
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4