乌合之众 wū hé zhī zhòng rabble

Explanation

乌合之众，指的是没有组织纪律，毫无战斗力的群体。就像一群乌鸦，虽然数量众多，但没有统一的行动，战斗力很弱。这个成语用来形容那些毫无组织，纪律散漫的群体，常常用来贬义。

A rabble refers to a group of people without organization or discipline and no fighting ability. Just like a flock of crows, although numerous, they have no unified action and are very weak in combat. This idiom is used to describe those who are disorganized and lack discipline, often used in a derogatory sense.

Origin Story

战国时期，有一位将军率领着士兵去攻打敌军。将军看到敌军人数众多，心中十分害怕，便对士兵们说：“敌人人数众多，我们根本打不过他们，还是赶快撤退吧。”士兵们听了将军的话，都感到十分沮丧，士气低落。这时候，将军的副将站出来，对将军说：“将军，您不要害怕，敌军虽然人数众多，但他们只是一群乌合之众，毫无组织纪律，只要我们团结一致，勇猛进攻，一定能战胜他们。”将军听了副将的话，心中稍安，便鼓舞士气，带领士兵们向敌军发起了猛烈的进攻。结果，敌军不堪一击，很快就溃败了。将军和士兵们大获全胜，他们终于明白，即使敌军人数众多，但如果只是一群乌合之众，也是不足为惧的。

zhàn guó shí qī, yǒu yī wèi jiāng jūn shuài lǐng zhe shì bīng qù gōng dǎ dí jūn. jiāng jūn kàn dào dí jūn rén shù zhòng duō, xīn zhōng shí fèn hài pà, biàn duì shì bīng men shuō: “dí rén rén shù zhòng duō, wǒ men gēn běn dǎ bù guò tā men, hái shì gǎn kuài tuì chè ba.” shì bīng men tīng le jiāng jūn de huà, dōu gǎn dào shí fèn jǔ sàng, shì qì dī luò. zhè shí hòu, jiāng jūn de fù jiāng zhàn chū lái, duì jiāng jūn shuō: “jiāng jūn, nín bú yào hài pà, dí jūn suī rán rén shù zhòng duō, dàn tā men zhǐ shì yī qún wū hé zhī zhòng, háo wú zǔ zhī jì lǜ, zhǐ yào wǒ men tuán jié yī zhì, yǒng měng gōng jī, yī dìng néng zhàn shèng tā men.” jiāng jūn tīng le fù jiāng de huà, xīn zhōng shāo ān, biàn gǔ wǔ shì qì, dài lǐng shì bīng men xiàng dí jūn fā qǐ le měng liè de gōng jī. jié guǒ, dí jūn bù kān yī jī, hěn kuài kuì bài le. jiāng jūn hé shì bīng men dà huò quán shèng, tā men zhōng yú míng bai, jí shǐ dí jūn rén shù zhòng duō, dàn rú guǒ zhǐ shì yī qún wū hé zhī zhòng, yě shì bù zú wéi jù de.

During the Warring States period, a general led his soldiers to attack the enemy army. The general saw that the enemy outnumbered them, and he was very afraid. He said to his soldiers, “The enemy is outnumbered, we can't beat them at all, let's retreat as soon as possible.

Usage

“乌合之众”常用来形容没有组织、纪律散漫、毫无战斗力的群体。例如，在工作中，如果团队成员之间缺乏沟通和协作，就会像“乌合之众”一样，难以完成目标。

“wū hé zhī zhòng” cháng yòng lái xíng róng méi yǒu zǔ zhī, jì lǜ sǎn màn, háo wú zhàn dòu lì de qún tǐ. lì rú, zài gōng zuò zhōng, rú guǒ tuán duì chéng yuán zhī jiān quē fá gōu tōng hé xié zuò, jiù huì xiàng “wū hé zhī zhòng” yī yàng, nán yǐ wán chéng mù biāo.

“A rabble” is often used to describe a group of people who are disorganized, lack discipline, and have no fighting ability. For example, at work, if team members lack communication and cooperation, they will be like “a rabble” and will find it difficult to achieve their goals.

Examples

• 这场比赛中，他们队伍毫无配合，真是乌合之众，完全不是对手。

  zhè chǎng bǐ sài zhōng, tā men duì wǔ háo wú pèi hé, zhēn shì wū hé zhī zhòng, wán quán bù shì duì shǒu.

  They were a motley crew in this game, with no coordination at all, they were no match for us.

• 面对敌人强大的攻击，他们没有组织纪律，犹如乌合之众，一触即溃。

  miàn duì dí rén qiáng dà de gōng jī, tā men méi yǒu zǔ zhī jì lǜ, rú tóu wū hé zhī zhòng, yī chù jí kuì.

  Faced with the enemy's powerful attack, they lacked organization and discipline, like a mob, they collapsed at the first touch.

• 这群人没有目标，没有领导，如同乌合之众，只能各自为战。

  zhè qún rén méi yǒu mù biāo, méi yǒu lǐng dǎo, rú tóng wū hé zhī zhòng, zhǐ néng gè zì wéi zhàn.

  These people have no goals, no leadership, like a rabble, they can only fight for themselves.

Related Idioms

• 一盘散沙

• 乌合之卒

• 乌集之众

Opposite Idioms

• 精兵强将

• 训练有素