兴师动众 mobilize a large force
Explanation
"兴师动众"指的是大规模地调动人力物力去做某事，通常形容事情做得声势浩大，也常含有劳民伤财、小题大做的意味。
"Xīng shī dòng zhòng" refers to mobilizing manpower and material resources on a large scale to do something. It usually describes something done with great fanfare, and often implies wasting manpower and resources or making a mountain out of a molehill.
Origin Story
战国时期，魏国名将吴起与魏武侯商讨如何才能百战百胜。吴起认为，一个优秀的将领，能够令行禁止，使士兵乐于听从指挥；能够兴师动众，让士兵们斗志昂扬，渴望出征；能够在战场上激励士气，使士兵不怕牺牲。他以自身经验阐述了这三点的重要性，并强调赏罚分明才能真正做到令行禁止。吴起还指出，在战争中，即使是看似微不足道的事情，也需要认真对待，不能掉以轻心。只有做好一切准备工作，才能取得最终的胜利。这个故事说明，成功的军事行动不仅需要强大的实力，更需要周密的计划和精细的组织。兴师动众，看似声势浩大，实际上需要认真考虑实际情况，避免劳民伤财，得不偿失。
During the Warring States period in China, the famous general Wu Qi discussed with the Duke of Wei how to always win battles. Wu Qi believed that an excellent general must be able to enforce orders, making soldiers happy to obey commands; must be able to mobilize large armies, making soldiers enthusiastic and eager to go to war; and must be able to boost morale on the battlefield, making soldiers unafraid of sacrifice. He explained the importance of these three points using his own experience and emphasized that only with clear rewards and punishments can orders be truly enforced. Wu Qi also pointed out that even seemingly trivial matters in war need to be taken seriously and not taken lightly. Only by being fully prepared can final victory be achieved. This story shows that a successful military operation requires not only strong force but also meticulous planning and refined organization. 兴师动众, while seeming impressive, actually requires careful consideration of actual circumstances to avoid wasting manpower and resources, and ultimately achieving nothing.
Usage
"兴师动众"通常作谓语、宾语或状语使用，用于形容大规模的行动，也常用来指责某些事情小题大做，劳民伤财。
"Xīng shī dòng zhòng" is usually used as a predicate, object, or adverbial modifier to describe large-scale actions. It is also often used to criticize certain things for being overblown and wasteful.
Examples
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为了这次会议，公司兴师动众，真是劳民伤财。
weile zheci huiyi gongsi xingshidongzhong zhen shi laominshangcai
The company made a great fuss for this meeting, wasting manpower and money.
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他搬家竟然兴师动众，请了十几个工人帮忙。
ta banjia jingran xingshidongzhong qingle shijige gongren bangmang
He even hired a dozen workers to help him move, quite a lot of effort!