多多益善

Chinese

		much; a lot; lots and lots much; a lot; lots and lots; a great deal; more; even more	benefit; increase	good
simp. and trad. (多多益善)		多多	益	善

Etymology

From Shiji:

上常從容與信言諸將能不，各有差。上問曰：「如我能將幾何？」信曰：「陛下不過能將十萬。」上曰：「於君何如？」曰：「臣多多而益善耳。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]

上常从容与信言诸将能不，各有差。上问曰：“如我能将几何？”信曰：“陛下不过能将十万。”上曰：“于君何如？”曰：“臣多多而益善耳。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, circa 91 BCE

Shàng cháng cóngróng yǔ Xìn yán zhū jiàng néng bù, gè yǒu chā. Shàng wèn yuē: “Rú wǒ néng jiàng jǐhé?” Xìn yuē: “Bìxià bùguò néng jiàng shí wàn.” Shàng yuē: “Yú jūn hérú?” Yuē: “Chén duōduō ér yì shàn ěr.” [Pinyin]

His majesty chatted with Han Xin about the capabilities of the generals. Each had their shortcomings. His majesty asked, "How many troops could I lead?" Han Xin replied, "Your highness should not lead more than 100,000." His majesty said, "And what about you?" "For your humble servant, the more the merrier!" said Han Xin.

This quote lead to the famous saying: 韓信點兵，多多益善／韩信点兵，多多益善 (“Han Xin counts his troops, the more the merrier”).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): duōduōyìshàn

(Zhuyin): ㄉㄨㄛㄉㄨㄛㄧˋ ㄕㄢˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): do¹ do¹ jik¹ sin⁶

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Pinyin: duōduōyìshàn
  - Zhuyin: ㄉㄨㄛㄉㄨㄛㄧˋ ㄕㄢˋ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: duoduoyihshann
  - Tongyong Pinyin: duoduoyìshàn
  - IPA ^(key): /twɔ⁵⁵ twɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: do¹ do¹ jik¹ sin⁶
  - Yale: dō dō yīk sihn
  - Cantonese Pinyin: do¹ do¹ jik⁷ sin⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: do¹ do¹ yig¹ xin⁶
  - IPA ^(key): /tɔː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ siːn²²/

Proverb

多多益善

the more the merrier

Korean

Hanja in this term
多	多	益	善

Noun

多多益善 • (dadaikseon) (hangeul 다다익선)

Hanja form^? of 다다익선 (“the more the merrier”).

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.