千呼万唤

千呼萬喚

qiānhūwànhuàn

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。

Qiānhūwànhuàn, 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。

Qiānhūwànhuàn zhī hòu, 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 qiānhūwànhuàn, 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