📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to all people regardless of gender or age. It encompasses everyone within a community or group. It is used to emphasize that something applies to or involves the entire population without exception.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Southern Dynasties period, specifically from the Liang Dynasty scholar Shen Yue's inscription 'Stele Text for Prince Anlu of Qi' (齐故安陆昭王碑文). The original text describes how men, women, the old, and the young all gathered in the streets, their mourning voices echoing and passing along to one another. This scene depicted the profound grief and widespread reverence the common people held for the deceased prince. Over time, the phrase became a common idiom meaning 'people of all ages and both sexes.'
💡 Example Usage
村里的男女老幼都出来观看这场露天电影。
Men, women, old, and young from the village all came out to watch the outdoor movie.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 男女老幼
- Pinyin: nán nǚ lǎo yòu
- Literal Translation: men, women, old, young
- Category: Variety
- Characters: 4