人多势众

人多勢眾

rénduōshìzhòng

idiom #40,138

Meanings

1 numerous and powerful
2 strength in numbers
3 many people make a strong force

Characters

force / influence

Examples

对方人多势众，我们先撤退。

Duìfāng rén duō shì zhòng, wǒmen xiān chètuì.

The other side has strength in numbers — let's retreat first.

人多势众不一定能赢。

Rén duō shì zhòng bù yīdìng néng yíng.

Numbers don't guarantee victory.

他们仗着人多势众，欺负一个老人。

Tāmen zhàngzhe rén duō shì zhòng, qīfù yīgè lǎorén.

Relying on their numbers, they bullied an old man.

Tips

history

Attested in 《红楼梦》 chapter 10: Jin Rong, 'cornered by superior numbers' (困人多势众), is forced to apologize. Often used to describe bullying or mob dynamics.

usage

Sometimes followed by 仗着 ('relying on') to describe abuse of majority power.

Stroke Order

人 rén

多 duō

势 shì

众 zhòng