门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shì
crowded with visitors or customers
Character by character
门mén
gate
gate
庭tíng
courtyard
courtyard
若ruò
like
like
市shì
market
market
Example
这家小面馆被美食博主推荐以后，天天门庭若市。
Ever since a food blogger recommended it, the little noodle shop has been packed every day.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the Strategies of the Warring States (战国策): when King Wei of Qi invited criticism, so many officials came that his gate and courtyard were as busy as a market. Now said of shops, restaurants and offices; its opposite is 门可罗雀, “so quiet you could net sparrows at the gate”.
Learn this in Lesson 184 · HSK 7–9: 义乌 (Yiwu, the world’s supermarket)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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