摩肩接踵 Shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot
Explanation
形容人多拥挤，肩碰着肩，脚碰着脚。
Describes a large, dense crowd, shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot.
Origin Story
春秋时期，齐国国相晏婴出使楚国。楚王想羞辱晏婴，故意刁难他，让他走偏门。晏婴反驳道：齐国人多，路上人挨人人挤人，肩碰着肩，脚碰着脚，才派我来，这符合齐国的外交礼仪。楚王自知理亏，只好恭敬地接待晏婴。
During the Spring and Autumn period, Yan Ying, the prime minister of Qi, went on a diplomatic mission to Chu. The King of Chu wanted to humiliate Yan Ying, so he deliberately made him enter the palace through a side gate. Yan Ying retorted: “Qi is so densely populated that people often rub shoulders and walk close together on the street, so they sent me.” The King of Chu, feeling guilty, then received Yan Ying respectfully.
Usage
多用于描写人多拥挤的场景。
Often used to describe crowded scenes.
Examples
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春运期间，火车站里人山人海，摩肩接踵。
Chunyun qijian, huochezhan li renshanrenhai, mojianjiezhong.
During the Spring Festival travel rush, train stations are packed, shoulder to shoulder.
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演唱会开始前，歌迷们摩肩接踵地涌入体育场。
Yanchang hui kaishi qian, gemi men mojianjiezhong di yongru tiyuchang.
Before the concert started, fans thronged into the stadium, shoulder to shoulder.