寡不敌众

寡不敵眾

guǎbù-dízhòng

idiom #44,260

Meanings

1 the few cannot resist the many; outnumbered
2 to be hopelessly outnumbered

Characters

to match; to withstand

Examples

士兵们寡不敌众，只好撤退。

Shìbīng men guǎbù-dízhòng, zhǐhǎo chètuì.

The soldiers were outnumbered and had to retreat.

辩论中他寡不敌众，最终妥协了。

Biànlùn zhōng tā guǎbù-dízhòng, zuìzhōng tuǒxié le.

Outnumbered in the debate, he finally compromised.

Tips

history

The idea appears in 《孟子·梁惠王上》 (寡固不可以敌众) and 《韩非子·难三》. 敌 here is a verb, 'to match, to resist'.

Stroke Order

寡 guǎ

不 bù

敌 dí

众 zhòng