📖 Meaning
Everyone says the same thing; people are unanimous in their account or opinion. It describes a situation where all parties express identical views or give the same testimony.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Song dynasty, in Ouyang Xiu's memorial '论议濮安懿王典礼札子' (A Memorial Discussing the Ritual Ceremony for Prince Pu'an Yi). Ouyang Xiu was a prominent statesman and literary figure. In the memorial, he observed that 'everyone says the same thing, yet the arguments are not correct' (众口一辞，纷然不正), criticizing how unanimous but flawed opinions had clouded proper judgment on the imperial ritual debate. Over time the expression came to describe unanimous agreement in speech or testimony.
💡 Example Usage
关于这件事的经过，大家众口一词，都说他根本没有参与。
Regarding what happened, everyone was unanimous in saying he had not been involved at all.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 众口一词
- Pinyin: zhòng kǒu yī cí
- Literal Translation: many, mouth, one, word
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4