不约而同 bù yuē ér tóng unanimously

Explanation

这个成语指事先没有约定，却在行为或想法上不谋而合。它强调的是一种自然而然的一致性，而不是刻意为之的协调。

This idiom refers to a situation where people agree in their actions or thoughts without prior agreement. It emphasizes a natural consistency, not a deliberate coordination.

Origin Story

在一个古老的村庄里，有一位名叫老王的老人，他以智慧和善良著称。村里人常常向他请教，因为他总是能给出最合适的建议。 有一天，村里两位年轻人，阿强和阿明，因为一件小事发生了争执。他们都认为自己是对的，谁也不肯让步。村长劝说他们去请老王来裁决，他们便一起找到了老王。 老王听完他们的争执后，并没有急于下结论。他只是静静地问他们：“你们俩谁认为自己是对的？” 阿强和阿明都毫不犹豫地回答：“我！” 老王笑着说：“看来你们两个人都是对的，只是站在不同的角度看问题罢了。你们不约而同地都认为自己是对的，这本身就是一种智慧。因为，你们都愿意为自己的观点负责。” 阿强和阿明听了老王的话，都觉得很有道理。他们都意识到，自己太过执着于自己的想法，而忽略了对方的立场。他们不约而同地都主动向对方道歉，最终化解了矛盾。 从此以后，村里的人们都记住了老王的话，他们也明白了，不约而同地达成一致并不意味着要放弃自己的观点，而是要学会理解和包容。

zài yī ge gǔ lǎo de cūn zhuāng lǐ，yǒu yī wèi míng jiào lǎo wáng de lǎo rén，tā yǐ zhì huì hé shàn liáng zhù chéng。cūn lǐ rén cháng cháng xiàng tā qǐng jiào，yīn wèi tā zǒng shì néng gěi chū zuì shì hé de jiàn yì。 yī tiān，cūn lǐ liǎng wèi nián qīng rén，ā qiáng hé ā míng，yīn wèi yī jiàn xiǎo shì fā shēng le zhēng zhí。tā men dōu rèn wéi zì jǐ shì duì de，shuí yě bù kěn ràng bù。cūn zhǎng quàn shuō tā men qù qǐng lǎo wáng lái cái jué，tā men biàn yī qǐ zhǎo dào le lǎo wáng。 lǎo wáng tīng wán tā men de zhēng zhí hòu，bìng méi yǒu jí yú xià jié lùn。tā zhǐ shì jìng jìng dì wèn tā men：“nǐ men liǎng shuí rèn wéi zì jǐ shì duì de？” ā qiáng hé ā míng dōu háo bú yóu yù dì huí dá：“wǒ！” lǎo wáng xiào zhe shuō：“kàn lái nǐ men liǎng gè rén dōu shì duì de，zhǐ shì zhàn zài bù tóng de jiǎo dù kàn wèn tí bǎ le。nǐ men bù yuē ér tóng dì dōu rèn wéi zì jǐ shì duì de，zhè běn shēn jiù shì yī zhǒng zhì huì。yīn wèi，nǐ men dōu yuàn yì wèi zì jǐ de guān diǎn fù zé。” ā qiáng hé ā míng tīng le lǎo wáng de huà，dōu jué de hěn yǒu dào lǐ。tā men dōu yì shí dào le，zì jǐ tài guò zhí zhuó yú zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ，ér hū lüè le duì fāng de lì chǎng。tā men bù yuē ér tóng dì dōu zhǔ dòng xiàng duì fāng dào qiàn，zhōng jiū huà jiě le máo dùn。 cóng cǐ yǐ hòu，cūn lǐ de rén men dōu jì zhù le lǎo wáng de huà，tā men yě míng bai le，bù yuē ér tóng dì dá chéng yī zhí bìng bù yì wèi zhè yào fàng qì zì jǐ de guān diǎn，ér shì yào xué huì lǐ jiě hé bāo róng。

In an ancient village, there lived an old man named Wang, who was known for his wisdom and kindness. Villagers often went to him for advice, as he always gave the most suitable suggestions. One day, two young men from the village, Aqiang and Aming, got into an argument over a trivial matter. They both believed they were right, and neither was willing to give in. The village headman advised them to ask Old Wang to arbitrate, and they went to him together. After listening to their argument, Old Wang did not rush to make a conclusion. He simply asked them quietly, "Who among you two believes that you are right?" Aqiang and Aming both answered without hesitation, "I!" Old Wang smiled and said, "It seems that you both are right, you are just looking at the problem from different perspectives. The fact that you both agree without making an appointment is in itself a kind of wisdom. Because, you are all willing to take responsibility for your point of view." Aqiang and Aming were convinced by Old Wang's words. They both realized that they were too attached to their own ideas and neglected the other's standpoint. They both apologized to each other and eventually resolved the conflict. From then on, the villagers remembered Old Wang's words, and they understood that achieving agreement without making an appointment does not mean giving up their own point of view, but learning to understand and tolerate.

Usage

这个成语常用来说明人们在没有事先约定的情况下，却在行动或思想上表现出一致性，体现了某种共同的意愿或想法。

zhè ge chéng yǔ cháng yòng lái shuō míng rén men zài méi yǒu shì xiān yuē dìng de qíng kuàng xià，què zài xíng dòng huò sī xiǎng shàng biǎo xiàn chū yī zhí xìng，tǐ xiàn le mǒu zhǒng gòng tóng de yì yuàn huò xiǎng fǎ。

This idiom is often used to illustrate how people, without prior agreement, demonstrate consistency in their actions or thoughts, reflecting a common will or idea.

Examples

• 我们不约而同地选择了同一个答案。

  wǒ men bù yuē ér tóng dì xuǎn zé le tóng yī ge dá àn。

  We all chose the same answer.

• 当他们谈论起这座城市的时候，他们的脑海中不约而同地浮现出相同的画面。

  dāng tā men tán lùn qǐ zhè zuò chéng shì de shí hòu，tā men de nǎo hǎi zhōng bù yuē ér tóng dì fú xiàn chū tóng yàng de huà miàn。

  When they talked about the city, they all had the same picture in their minds.

• 看到比赛结果，我们不约而同地欢呼起来。

  kàn dào bǐ sài jié guǒ，wǒ men bù yuē ér tóng dì huān hū qǐ lái。

  Seeing the result of the game, we all cheered together.

Related Idioms

• 不谋而合

• 殊途同归

• 异口同声

Opposite Idioms

• 各抒己见

• 众说纷纭

• 莫衷一是