三人成虎 Three people make a tiger
Explanation
比喻说的人多了，就能使人们把谣言当事实。反映了人们在听到一些事情的时候，容易受到周围环境的影响，导致被假象所迷惑。
The idiom 'three people make a tiger' refers to a situation where a rumor is repeated by more and more people, eventually being accepted as truth. It reflects people's susceptibility to peer pressure and the danger of spreading misinformation.
Origin Story
战国时期，魏国有一个大臣叫庞葱，他被派到赵国去当人质。临行前，庞葱对魏王说：“大王，如果有人告诉您，城里有老虎，您会相信吗？”魏王笑着说：“我当然不会相信！”庞葱又说：“那如果两个人都告诉您城里有老虎呢？”魏王还是笑着说：“我也不会相信！”庞葱接着说：“如果三个人都告诉您城里有老虎呢？”魏王终于认真地说：“那就有可能了！”庞葱临走时，叮嘱魏王：“大王，您要多加小心啊，现在外面有很多人都想毁坏我的名声，您一定要明辨是非，不要轻易听信别人的谣言。”魏王点头答应。但庞葱到了赵国以后，却被人到处散布谣言，说他图谋不轨，想要叛国。这些谣言很快传到了魏王的耳朵里，魏王竟然信以为真，最终将庞葱处死。
During the Warring States period, there was a minister named Pang Cong in the Wei kingdom. He was sent to the Zhao kingdom as a hostage. Before leaving, Pang Cong told the King of Wei, "Your Majesty, if someone tells you there's a tiger in the city, would you believe them?" The King laughed and said, "Of course, I wouldn't believe them!" Pang Cong asked again, "What if two people told you there's a tiger in the city?" The King still laughed and said, "I wouldn't believe them either!" Pang Cong continued, "What if three people told you there's a tiger in the city?" The King finally said seriously, "Then it could be true!" Before Pang Cong left, he warned the King, "Your Majesty, be careful. There are many people out there who want to ruin my reputation. You must discern right from wrong and don't easily believe what others tell you." The King nodded in agreement. But after Pang Cong arrived in Zhao, rumors spread everywhere, accusing him of plotting treason. These rumors soon reached the King of Wei's ears, and he eventually believed them, leading to Pang Cong's execution.
Usage
这个成语用于讽刺那些不辨真伪，轻信谣言的人。
This idiom is used to satirize those who cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood and easily believe rumors.
Examples
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这种说法毫无根据，纯粹是三人成虎，不要轻易相信！
zhe zhong shuo fa wu hu gen ju, chun cui shi san ren cheng hu, bu yao qing yi xin xiang!
This statement is baseless, purely a case of "three people making a tiger." Don't believe it easily!
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网络上一些不实信息，很容易造成三人成虎的效果。
wang luo shang yi xie bu shi xin xi, hen rong yi zao cheng san ren cheng hu de xiao guo.
Some false information on the internet can easily lead to a "three people make a tiger" effect.
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谣言止于智者，不要被三人成虎的现象所迷惑！
yao yan zhi yu zhi zhe, bu yao bei san ren cheng hu de xian xiang suo mi huo!
Rumors stop with the wise, don't be fooled by the "three people make a tiger" phenomenon!