摩肩接踵 — “Shoulders rubbing, heels treading”
摩肩接踵 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Shoulders rubbing, heels treading”. Describing a place densely packed with people, making it difficult to move. Literally, “Shoulders rubbing, heels joining”.
摩肩接踵 Pronunciation and Pinyin
摩肩接踵 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 摩肩接踵
Origin and Story of 摩肩接踵
During the Spring and Autumn period, Yan Ying, the Prime Minister of the State of Qi, was sent as an envoy to the State of Chu.
The King of Chu intended to humiliate him, refusing to let him enter through the main gate and remarking that Qi must have no capable people if they sent such a short man.
Yan Ying retorted that the streets of Qi were so crowded that people walked shoulder to shoulder and heel to heel, their sweat gathered like rain, and their sleeves created clouds.
He further stated that Qi's diplomatic protocol dictated that an incompetent envoy should only meet an incompetent ruler.
The King of Chu, realizing he had brought the humiliation upon himself, had no choice but to receive Yan Ying with proper respect.
Idioms Related to 摩肩接踵
Synonyms of 摩肩接踵
Antonyms of 摩肩接踵
More idioms starting with 摩
- mó摩lì厉yǐ以xū需sharpen skills and await opportunity
- mó摩lì厉yǐ以xū须sharpen tools and await opportunity
- mó摩kǒu口gāo膏shé舌have a glib and malicious tongue
- mó摩tiān天ài碍rì日towering into the sky and blocking the sun
- mó摩quán拳cā擦zhǎng掌eager to start a task or fight
- mó摩lì砺yǐ以xū须sharpen tools and wait for opportunity
- mó摩jiān肩jī击gǔ毂bustling crowds and traffic
- mó摩jiān肩rú如yún云a jostling, extremely dense crowd
- mó摩jiān肩jiē接gǔ毂crowded and bustling with people and vehicles
- mó摩jiān肩cā擦bèi背extremely crowded with people
- mó摩jiān肩cā擦zhǒng踵jostling in a surging crowd
- mó摩dǐng顶fàng放zhǒng踵dedicate oneself completely, sparing no effort
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Open the tool →Questions about 摩肩接踵
What does 摩肩接踵 mean?
摩肩接踵 (mó jiān jiē zhǒng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Shoulders rubbing, heels treading”.
How do you pronounce 摩肩接踵?
摩肩接踵 is pronounced mó jiān jiē zhǒng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 摩肩接踵 literally mean?
Literally, 摩肩接踵 means “Shoulders rubbing, heels joining”. It is used to mean “Shoulders rubbing, heels treading”.
Where does 摩肩接踵 come from?
摩肩接踵 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 摩肩接踵?
肩碰着肩，脚碰着脚。形容人多拥挤。