千呼万唤

千呼萬喚

qiānhū-wànhuàn

idiom

Meanings

1 a thousand calls, ten thousand summons — to call again and again
2 after much urging or long anticipation

Characters

to summon; to call

Examples

千呼万唤，新产品终于上市了。

Qiānhū-wànhuàn, xīn chǎnpǐn zhōngyú shàngshì le.

After much anticipation, the new product has finally hit the market.

千呼万唤之后，她才肯上台。

Qiānhū-wànhuàn zhīhòu, tā cái kěn shàngtái.

Only after being urged over and over did she agree to go on stage.

观众千呼万唤，主角才从后台出来。

Guānzhòng qiānhū-wànhuàn, zhǔjué cái cóng hòutái chūlái.

The audience called out repeatedly before the lead actor finally came out from backstage.

Tips

history

From Bai Juyi's Tang-dynasty poem 《琵琶行》 (Song of the Pipa): 千呼万唤始出来，犹抱琵琶半遮面 — 'after a thousand calls she finally emerged, still half-hiding her face behind her pipa'. One of the most famous lines in Tang poetry; the idiom evokes its reluctance-and-anticipation image.

usage

Often implies that what finally arrives was long-delayed — a product launch, a shy performer, a promised reform. The Bai Juyi echo gives it a literary flavor even in casual use.

Stroke Order

千 qiān

呼 hū

万 wàn

唤 huàn