抱成一团

抱成一團
bàochéng-yìtuán
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to band together
  2. 2 to gang up
  3. 3 to stick close as one group

Examples

HSK 7-9
Cūnmín men bàochéng-yìtuán, gòng dù nánguān.
The villagers banded together to get through the hard times.
HSK 7-9
他们抱成一团结党营私
Tāmen jǐ gè bàochéng-yìtuán, jiédǎng-yíngsī.
The few of them ganged up to form a clique and pursue selfish interests.

Tips

usage
Two-faced: positive when describing solidarity in adversity, negative when describing cliques and cabals - context decides which read you get.
memory
Literally 'hug into one ball'. Picture penguins huddling in a blizzard - that's the positive sense; picture office factions whispering - that's the negative one.

Stroke Order

bào
chéng
tuán