成千上万 chéngqiān-shàngwàn literally by the thousands and tens of thousands
literally by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); figuratively untold numbers; innumerable; countless
How to remember 成千上万: 成 to become + 千 thousand + 上 above + 万 ten thousand = literally by the thousands and tens of thousands.
Characters
How it is used
- Idiom: thousands upon thousands / countless: 成千上万的游客 (chéngqiān-shàngwàn de yóukè) tens of thousands of tourists.
- A vivid set phrase for a huge, uncountable number of things/people.
- Emphatic; modifies a noun to stress vast quantity.
Example sentences
- 成千上万的人想要知道答案。 Chéngqiānshàngwàn de rén xiǎngyào zhīdào dáàn.Thousands of people wanted to know the answer.
- 每年有成千上万的外国人访问日本。 Měinián yǒu chéngqiānshàngwàn de wàiguórén fǎngwèn rìběn.Thousands of foreigners visit Japan every year.