万马齐喑 wàn mǎ qí yīn All horses silent

Explanation

这个成语比喻社会或政治局面非常沉闷，人民不敢发表意见。

This idiom is used to describe a society or political situation that is very dull, and people dare not express their opinions.

Origin Story

在古代，有一个名叫李白的诗人，他看到当时社会风气腐败，政治黑暗，人民生活困苦，却没有人敢站出来说话，于是写下了著名的诗句：“九州生气恃风雷，万马齐喑究可哀。我劝天公重抖擞，不拘一格降人才。”这首诗表达了李白对当时社会现状的不满，以及对改革的渴望。

zài gǔ dài, yǒu yī gè míng jiào lǐ bái de shī rén, tā kàn dào dāng shí shè huì fēng qì fǔ bài, zhèng zhì hēi àn, rén mín shēng huó kǔn kǔ, què méi yǒu rén gǎn zhàn chū lái shuō huà, yú shì xiě xià le zhù míng de shī jù：“jiǔ zhōu shēng qì shì fēng léi, wàn mǎ qí yīn jiū kě āi. wǒ quàn tiān gōng chóng dǒu sǒu, bù jū yī gé jiàng rén cái.” zhè shǒu shī biǎo dá le lǐ bái duì dāng shí shè huì xiàn zhàng de bù mǎn, yǐ jí duì gǎi gé de kě wàng.

In ancient times, there was a poet named Li Bai. He saw that the social atmosphere was corrupt, the politics were dark, and the people's lives were miserable, but no one dared to speak out. So he wrote the famous lines: “The nine provinces draw energy from wind and thunder, the silence of all horses is sorrowful. I urge the heavens to reflect and promote talents without restrictions.” This poem expresses Li Bai's dissatisfaction with the state of society at the time, as well as his longing for reform.

Usage

这个成语主要用于形容社会或政治局面沉闷，人民不敢发表意见的情况。

zhè ge chéng yǔ zhǔ yào yòng yú xíng róng shè huì huò zhèng zhì juàn miàn chén mèn, rén mín bù gǎn fā biǎo yì jiàn de qíng kuàng.

This idiom is mainly used to describe a society or political situation that is dull, and people dare not express their opinions.

Examples

• 在会议上，大家沉默不语，显得万马齐喑。

  zài huì yì shàng, dà jiā chén mò bù yǔ, xiǎn de wàn mǎ qí yīn.

  In the meeting, everyone was silent, it seemed like the atmosphere was dead.

• 面对着腐败的政权，人们万马齐喑，不敢发声。

  miàn duì zhe fǔ bài de zhèng quán, rén men wàn mǎ qí yīn, bù gǎn fā shēng.

  Facing the corrupt regime, people were silent, afraid to speak out.

Related Idioms

• 万籁俱寂

• 死气沉沉

Opposite Idioms

• 万马奔腾

• 龙腾虎跃