Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指
千夫所指

千夫所指 — “To be an object of universal condemnation”

千夫所指 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be an object of universal condemnation”. To be reviled by everyone. Literally, “Pointed at by a thousand people”.

Frequency

千夫所指 Pronunciation and Pinyin

千夫所指 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
千
qiān3thousand, many
夫
fū4man, husband, or classical particle
所
suǒ8place or that which
指
zhǐ9point, indicate, or refer

Example Sentence with 千夫所指

他因为在社区里散布谣言,最终落得个千夫所指的下场。
Because he spread rumors in the community, he ultimately faced universal condemnation.

Origin and Story of 千夫所指

In the late Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Ai of Han, Liu Xin, was a dissolute and shameless emperor who indulged in wine and women.

He was also infatuated with men, particularly Dong Xian, the son of Imperial Censor Dong Gong, because of his beauty.

Liu Xin appointed Dong Xian as Grand Marshal and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Gao'an. All officials had to go through Dong Xian to submit their memorials to the throne. Dong Xian frequently bestowed 1,000 taels of gold upon people.

The Grand Censor Wang Jia submitted a memorial to the throne, accusing Dong Xian of being a criminal "pointed at by a thousand people" (千夫所指).

Idioms Related to 千夫所指

Synonyms of 千夫所指

  • zhòng众shǐ矢zhī之dì的target of public criticism

More idioms starting with 千

  • qiān千wàn万mǎi买lín邻Good neighbors are invaluable
  • qiān千sī丝wàn万lǚ缕numerous intricate and complex connections
  • qiān千chéng乘wàn万qí骑Magnificent array of chariots and cavalry
  • qiān千shèng乘zhī之guó国A powerful feudal state
  • qiān千chéng乘zhī之wáng王A paramount sovereign or emperor
  • qiān千le了wàn万dàng当everything properly settled and arranged
  • qiān千liǎo了bǎi百liǎo了Everything is settled
  • qiān千liǎo了bǎi百dàng当Everything properly arranged and settled
  • qiān千rén人yī一miàn面all the same; lacking originality
  • qiān千rén人suǒ所zhǐ指universally condemned
  • qiān千rén人nuò诺nuò诺,,bù不rú如yī一shì士è谔è谔One honest critic is better than a thousand yes-men
  • qiān千chóu仇wàn万hèn恨countless grudges and deep hatred

Recommended tools

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Questions about 千夫所指

What does 千夫所指 mean?

千夫所指 (qiān fū suǒ zhǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be an object of universal condemnation”.

How do you pronounce 千夫所指?

千夫所指 is pronounced qiān fū suǒ zhǐ in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 千夫所指 literally mean?

Literally, 千夫所指 means “Pointed at by a thousand people”. It is used to mean “to be an object of universal condemnation”.

Where does 千夫所指 come from?

千夫所指 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 千夫所指?

为众人所指责。形容触犯众怒。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us