兴师动众

興師動眾

xīngshīdòngzhòng

idiom #32,365

Meanings

1 to mobilize a huge force
2 to make a big fuss over something

Characters

to raise, launch

Examples

这点小事，何必兴师动众？

Zhè diǎn xiǎo shì, hébì xīngshī dòngzhòng?

Why make such a big production over such a trivial matter?

为了抓一个小偷，警方兴师动众。

Wèile zhuā yí ge xiǎotōu, jǐngfāng xīngshī dòngzhòng.

The police mobilized a huge force just to catch one thief.

Tips

usage

Usually mildly critical — implies disproportion between effort and purpose. Common in the rhetorical question 何必兴师动众.

Stroke Order

兴 xīng

师 shī

动 dòng

众 zhòng