门庭若市

門庭若市
méntíng-ruòshì
idiom #98,945

Meanings

  1. 1 the courtyard is like a marketplace
  2. 2 a place thronged with visitors
  3. 3 bustling with callers

Examples

HSK 7-9
Xīn diàn kāizhāng, méntíngruòshì.
The new shop opened and was thronged with customers.
HSK 7-9
Zhèwèi míngyī de zhěnsuǒ méntíngruòshì.
The famous doctor's clinic is packed with patients.

Tips

history
From 《战国策·齐策一》: advisor Zou Ji convinced King Wei of Qi to invite criticism. When rewards were offered, "群臣进谏门庭若市" - officials came to remonstrate so densely that the palace gate was like a market.
mistakes
Antonym is 门可罗雀 (so empty you could trap sparrows at the door). Don't confuse with 人山人海, which describes crowds generally; 门庭若市 specifically refers to visitors at a door/shop/office.

Stroke Order

mén
tíng
ruò
shì