三人成虎
sān rén chéng hǔ
a rumour repeated by enough people comes to be believed
Character by character
三sān
three
three
人rén
people
people
成chéng
make
make
虎hǔ
tiger
tiger
Example
一个说法转发的人多了，就成了“大家都知道”的事实，这就是三人成虎。
Once enough people repost a claim, it becomes a “fact everyone knows”: three people make a tiger.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From 《战国策·魏策二》: the minister 庞葱 asked the King of Wei whether he would believe one man who said there was a tiger in the market (no), two (he would wonder), three (yes), and concluded 夫市之无虎明矣，然而三人言而成虎. Often paired with 众口铄金.
Learn this in Lesson 192 · HSK 7–9: 热搜与情况通报 (Trending topics and official statements)
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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