Chinese Conversation · Level 81
91 words
Chinese word
人山人海
Pronunciation
Pinyinrén shān rén hǎi
Meaning
- idiompacked with people
Example
今天商场里人山人海，我们先回家吧。jīn tiān shāng chǎng lǐ rén shān rén hǎi wǒ men xiān huí jiā ba
The mall is packed with people today, so let's go home first.
More examples
广场上人山人海，大家都在看表演。guáng chǎng shàng rén shān rén hǎi dà jiā dōu zài kàn biáo yǎn
The square is packed with people, and everyone is watching the performance.
Core concept
People seem to form an enormous natural landscape, with no clear gap between one person and the next.
Common phrases
商场里人山人海shāng chǎng lǐ rén shān rén hǎi
the mall is packed with people
广场上人山人海guáng chǎng shàng rén shān rén hǎi
the square is packed with people
街道上人山人海jiē dào shàng rén shān rén hǎi
the street is packed with people
Similar words
人头攒动rén tóu cuán dòng: A crowded scene where many moving heads gather close together.
水泄不通shuǐ xiè bù tōng: A crowd packed so tightly that passage is almost completely blocked.
摩肩接踵mó jiān jiē zhǒng: A tightly packed crowd where shoulders rub and heels touch.
拥挤不堪yōng jǐ bù kān: An extremely cramped crowd that leaves too little room to feel comfortable.
Definition in Chinese
表示人群像山海一样密集，数量极多，强调拥挤程度。biǎo shì rén qún xiàng shān hǎi yí yàng mì jí shù liàng jí duō qiáng diào yōng jǐ chéng dù
Word origin
The idiom pairs people with mountains and seas in a repeated four-character pattern, turning the size of nature into a vivid measure of a crowd.
Usage tips
- For everyday speech, it works especially well for a place seen at a busy moment, while a count, report, or schedule calls for more precise wording.