恒河沙数 Héng Hé Shā Shù Sands of the Ganges

Explanation

恒河是南亚的一条大河，沙粒的数量多到无法计算。这个成语形容数量极多，无法计算。

The Ganges is a large river in South Asia, and the number of sand grains is incalculable. This idiom describes an extremely large, uncountable number.

Origin Story

传说中，释迦牟尼佛为了度化众生，曾用七宝布施三千大世界，其数量之多，如同恒河沙数般无穷无尽。恒河水奔流不息，河床上的沙粒更是数不胜数，这便是恒河沙数的由来。

chuán shuō zhōng, shìjiāmóuní fó wèile dùhuà zhòngshēng, céng yòng qī bǎo bùshī sānqiāndà shìjiè, qí shùliàng zhī duō, rútóng héng hé shā shù bān wúqióng wújìn. héng hé shuǐ bēnliú bùxī, héchuáng shàng de shā lì gèng shì shù bù shèng shù, zhè biàn shì héng hé shā shù de yóulái.

In legend, Buddha used seven treasures to save sentient beings, and the number was infinite, similar to the countless sand grains of the Ganges. The incessant flow of the Ganges and its countless sand grains are the origin of the idiom.

Usage

形容数量极多，难以计数。

xiángróng shùliàng jí duō, nányǐ jìshù

To describe an extremely large, almost uncountable amount.

Examples

• 恒河沙数的星星在夜空中闪烁。

  héng hé shā shù de xīngxīng zài yè kōng zhōng shǎnshuò

  Countless stars twinkled in the night sky.

• 宇宙的奥秘，如同恒河沙数，难以穷尽。

  yǔzhòu de àomì, rútóng héng hé shā shù, nányǐ qióngjìn

  The mysteries of the universe are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, inexhaustible

Related Idioms

• 不计其数

• 数不胜数

Opposite Idioms

• 寥寥无几

• 屈指可数