The Chinese idiom 屡见不鲜 (lǚ jiàn bù xiān) is a classic four-character expression that translates literally to "repeatedly seen, not fresh." In modern usage, it serves as a sophisticated way to describe something that has become so commonplace, frequent, or routine that it no longer attracts attention or causes surprise. It is the linguistic equivalent of saying something is a "common occurrence," "nothing new," or "a dime a dozen." This idiom is deeply embedded in both formal writing and educated daily speech, often used to critique social trends, comment on repetitive news cycles, or describe recurring technical issues. When you use this phrase, you are not just saying something happens often; you are implying that the novelty has completely worn off. It carries a subtle tone of world-weariness or objective observation. For instance, if a city experiences traffic jams every single morning, a resident might remark that such congestion is lǚ jiàn bù xiān. The power of this idiom lies in its ability to condense a complex observation about frequency and perception into four concise syllables.
- Grammatical Role
- It functions primarily as an adjective or a predicate. You will often see it following a subject like 'phenomenon' (现象) or 'matter' (这种事).
这种网络诈骗手段在当今社会已经屡见不鲜了。(This kind of online fraud method is already a common occurrence in today's society.)
Historically, the phrase originates from the 'New History of the Five Dynasties,' where it originally referred to the idea that even the most delicious or rare food becomes unexciting if eaten every day. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from the culinary world to the broader world of human experience. Today, it is an essential tool for anyone reaching an upper-intermediate level of Chinese proficiency, as it allows for more precise and idiomatic expression than the basic word '经常' (often). It is frequently employed in journalism to describe recurring political scandals, environmental issues, or technological glitches. By using this term, a speaker demonstrates a mastery of 'Chengyu' (idioms), which are the hallmark of an educated communicator in Chinese culture.
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- Formal to Semi-Formal. It appears frequently in newspapers, academic essays, and professional reports.
在快节奏的都市生活中，加班现象早已屡见不鲜。(In the fast-paced urban life, the phenomenon of working overtime has long been a common occurrence.)
- Social Context
- It is often used when discussing negative or neutral trends, such as environmental pollution, traffic accidents, or market fluctuations.
手机泄露用户隐私的新闻屡见不鲜，引发了大众的担忧。(News of mobile phones leaking user privacy is a common occurrence, sparking public concern.)
这种由于疏忽导致的错误在实验室里屡见不鲜。(Errors caused by negligence like this are common occurrences in the laboratory.)
在二手市场，以次充好的行为屡见不鲜。(In the second-hand market, the practice of passing off inferior goods as high quality is a common occurrence.)
Using 屡见不鲜 correctly requires understanding its structural placement within a Chinese sentence. Unlike simple adjectives like 'big' or 'small' that often come before a noun (e.g., 大房子), this idiom most frequently acts as the predicate of the sentence. This means it usually comes after the subject it is describing. A very common pattern is '[Subject] + [Adverb like 已经/早已/并不] + 屡见不鲜'. For example, you might say '这种事已经屡见不鲜了' (This kind of thing is already common). It can also be used as an attributive to modify a noun, connected by the particle '的', as in '屡见不鲜的现象' (a common phenomenon). However, the predicate form is much more prevalent in natural discourse. It is important to note that because the idiom itself contains the negation '不' (not), you should be careful not to create a double negative unless you intend to say the thing is rare.
- Sentence Pattern 1: Subject + Predicate
- The most direct way to use the idiom to describe a situation. Example: 这种交通违章行为在早高峰时段屡见不鲜。
在电影行业，续集不如前作的情况屡见不鲜。(In the movie industry, situations where sequels are not as good as the originals are common occurrences.)
Another nuance to consider is the emotional weight of the sentence. While '屡见不鲜' is objectively describing frequency, it is often paired with words that express a sense of resignation or criticism. Adverbs like '早已' (long ago) or '并不少见' (not at all rare) often precede it to reinforce the idea that the speaker is unimpressed by the occurrence. If you are writing an academic paper or a formal report, using this idiom instead of '很多' (many) or '经常' (often) will significantly elevate your writing style. It suggests that you are looking at the 'big picture' and identifying a systemic or recurring pattern rather than just a one-off event. It is particularly effective when discussing societal shifts, such as the rise of remote work or the decline of traditional retail.
- Sentence Pattern 2: Attributive Use
- Using the idiom to modify a noun directly. Example: 这是一种屡见不鲜的社会偏见。
面对这种屡见不鲜的欺诈行为，我们需要提高警惕。(Facing such common fraudulent behavior, we need to be more vigilant.)
- Sentence Pattern 3: Comparison
- Contrasting the past with the present. Example: 以前这是奇闻，现在却屡见不鲜。
几十年前，出国留学还是稀罕事，如今已经屡见不鲜了。(Decades ago, studying abroad was a rare thing, but now it has become a common occurrence.)
在历史的长河中，王朝的更替是屡见不鲜的事。(In the long river of history, the replacement of dynasties is a common occurrence.)
这种由于软件漏洞导致的数据泄露，在科技圈屡见不鲜。(Data leaks caused by software vulnerabilities like this are common occurrences in the tech circle.)
If you are navigating the world of Chinese media, you will encounter 屡见不鲜 in several specific contexts. First and foremost, it is a staple of news reporting. Journalists use it to describe persistent social issues such as corruption, environmental degradation, or economic instability. For example, a headline might read 'Food Safety Issues are 屡见不鲜,' signaling to the reader that this is an ongoing problem that the public should be concerned about. Secondly, you will hear it in academic or intellectual discussions. Professors and analysts use the idiom to categorize phenomena that follow a predictable pattern. In a sociology lecture, a professor might discuss how certain behaviors in urban environments are lǚ jiàn bù xiān. This gives the discussion a level of professional gravitas that simpler words cannot provide.
- News Media
- Headlines often use this to highlight systemic failures or persistent societal trends. It acts as a call to action or a statement of fact.
类似这种虚假广告误导消费者的案例，在新闻报道中早已屡见不鲜。(Cases like this where false advertisements mislead consumers have long been common occurrences in news reports.)
Beyond formal media, you will also find this idiom in professional settings, such as business meetings or tech conferences. When discussing industry trends, a manager might say that 'market fluctuations are 屡见不鲜' to calm nervous investors. In the tech world, it is often used to describe common bugs or user interface errors that developers have become accustomed to. Interestingly, while it is a formal idiom, it is not 'stiff.' It can be used in a casual conversation between friends if they are discussing something that happens all the time and they want to sound a bit more articulate or ironic. For example, if a friend is always late, you might jokingly say that their tardiness is lǚ jiàn bù xiān. This versatility makes it one of the most useful idioms to master for real-world communication.
- Business and Tech
- Used to describe expected volatility or common technical failures. It frames the issue as something 'known' rather than a crisis.
在互联网行业，初创公司倒闭的消息可以说是屡见不鲜。(In the internet industry, news of startups going bankrupt can be said to be a common occurrence.)
- Literature and Essays
- Used to provide a reflective tone on the human condition or historical patterns.
这种英雄末路的悲剧在文学作品中屡见不鲜。(This kind of tragedy of a hero's downfall is a common occurrence in literary works.)
在职场竞争中，为了利益而背叛朋友的事屡见不鲜。(In workplace competition, betraying friends for profit is a common occurrence.)
虽然这种错误在新手身上屡见不鲜，但对于资深员工来说是不可原谅的。(Although this kind of mistake is common among novices, it is inexcusable for senior employees.)
While 屡见不鲜 is a very useful idiom, learners often stumble into a few common traps. The first and most significant mistake is using it for physical objects or people directly. Remember, this idiom describes phenomena or events. You cannot say 'This apple is 屡见不鲜' to mean 'This apple is common.' Instead, you would say 'Seeing apples in this market is 屡见不鲜.' The focus must be on the 'seeing' (见) and the 'occurrence' of the situation. Another mistake is redundancy. Because '屡' already means 'repeatedly' or 'frequently,' adding other frequency words like '经常' (often) right before it can sound repetitive and unnatural. For example, '经常屡见不鲜' is grammatically redundant. Stick to '早已' (long ago) or '已经' (already) to modify the timing rather than the frequency.
- Mistake 1: Describing Physical Objects
- Incorrect: 这种手机在商店里屡见不鲜。 (The phone itself isn't 'not fresh'). Correct: 这种手机在商店里随处可见 (everywhere to be seen) or 这种手机的款式已经屡见不鲜了 (the style is common).
错误用法：这里的树木屡见不鲜。 (Incorrect: The trees here are common.)
The second major pitfall is confusion with similar idioms like '司空见惯' (sī kōng jiàn guàn). While they are very similar, '司空见惯' focuses more on the observer being used to the sight, whereas '屡见不鲜' focuses on the lack of novelty in the event itself. '屡见不鲜' is often more objective, while '司空见惯' is more subjective. Additionally, avoid using '屡见不鲜' to describe positive, rare things. It has a slightly neutral-to-negative connotation. You wouldn't usually use it to describe a 'common act of extreme heroism' unless you were being cynical. It is best used for mundane, repetitive, or slightly problematic events. Lastly, pay attention to the negation. '不鲜' means 'not fresh/new.' If you want to say something is rare, don't just remove the '不'; the idiom only exists in this four-character form. Use '闻所未闻' (never heard of) instead.
- Mistake 2: Redundant Frequency Adverbs
- Avoid '经常屡见不鲜'. The '屡' already covers the 'often' part. Use '已经' or '早已' instead.
错误用法：这种现象经常屡见不鲜。(Incorrect: This phenomenon is frequently common occurrence.)
- Mistake 3: Misinterpreting '鲜'
- Do not use it for rotting food. It is about the 'novelty' of an event, not the shelf life of groceries.
在网络时代，信息的快速传播已经屡见不鲜。(In the internet age, the rapid spread of information is already a common occurrence.)
这种由于天气原因导致的航班延误早已屡见不鲜。(Flight delays due to weather conditions have long been a common occurrence.)
虽然这种现象屡见不鲜，但我们仍然不能掉以轻心。(Although this phenomenon is common, we still cannot let our guard down.)
In Chinese, there are several ways to say something is 'common,' and choosing the right one depends on your specific meaning. The most frequent comparison is with 司空见惯 (sī kōng jiàn guàn). While both mean 'common,' sī kōng jiàn guàn emphasizes that the observer is so accustomed to the sight that they find it unremarkable. It is more about the person's reaction. 屡见不鲜, on the other hand, emphasizes the frequency of the event itself and its lack of novelty. Think of lǚ jiàn bù xiān as 'this happens all the time' and sī kōng jiàn guàn as 'I'm used to seeing this.' Another alternative is 习以为常 (xí yǐ wéi cháng), which means 'to be used to something' and functions more as a verb phrase describing a habit or a state of mind.
- Comparison: 屡见不鲜 vs. 司空见惯
- 屡见不鲜: Focuses on the event (It's not new). 司空见惯: Focuses on the person (I'm not surprised).
对于这种小广告，大家早就司空见惯了。(Everyone has long been used to these small advertisements.)
If you want to describe something that is extremely common, almost like a daily routine, you can use 家常便饭 (jiā cháng biàn fàn). This literally means 'home-cooked meal' but is used metaphorically for things that happen every day. It is more informal than lǚ jiàn bù xiān. For something that keeps appearing in great numbers, 层出不穷 (céng chū bù qióng) is the best choice. It means 'emerging one after another without end.' While lǚ jiàn bù xiān says 'this is nothing new,' céng chū bù qióng says 'there are so many of these!' Finally, if you want a very simple word, you can use 普遍 (pǔbiàn) for 'widespread' or 常见 (chángjiàn) for 'common.' These lack the idiomatic flavor of the Chengyu but are perfectly clear and widely used in all levels of speech.
- Alternative: 家常便饭 (Home-cooked meal)
- More informal. Used for personal routines or things that happen so often they are like eating dinner. Example: 加班对他来说是家常便饭。
新的骗术层出不穷，让人防不胜防。(New scams emerge one after another, making it hard to guard against them.)
- Alternative: 习以为常 (Used to it)
- Describes the psychological state of being accustomed to something. Example: 面对批评，他已经习以为常了。
在互联网时代，这种信息过载的现象已经普遍存在。(In the internet age, this phenomenon of information overload is widespread.)
这种感冒症状在冬季非常常见。(These cold symptoms are very common in winter.)
这种数见不鲜的小事，不值得大惊小怪。(These common little things are not worth making a fuss over. Note: 数见不鲜 is a direct synonym.)
Examples by Level
我常看见他，这并不奇怪。
I often see him, this is not strange.
A1 level uses '常看见' instead of the idiom.
这种事经常发生。
This kind of thing often happens.
Uses '经常发生' for frequency.
在学校，我看过很多书。
In school, I have seen many books.
Focuses on 'many' (很多).
他每天都来这里，大家都很认识他。
He comes here every day, everyone knows him.
Uses '每天都' for repetition.
这种天气在夏天很多。
This kind of weather is common in summer.
Simple description of frequency.
老师说的话，我们听过很多次。
We have heard what the teacher said many times.
Uses '很多次' (many times).
在商店，你可以看到很多苹果。
In the store, you can see many apples.
Basic 'can see' (可以看到) structure.
这个名字在这里很常见。
This name is very common here.
Uses '常见' (common).
这种现象在城市里已经屡见不鲜了。
This phenomenon is already a common occurrence in the city.
Introduction of the idiom as a predicate.
对他来说，这种小错是屡见不鲜的。
For him, this kind of small mistake is common.
Uses '是...的' structure.
手机坏了的事，在今天已经屡见不鲜了。
The matter of phones breaking is already common today.
Describes a common event.
在早上的地铁里，人多得屡见不鲜。
In the morning subway, the crowd is a common sight.
Using the idiom to describe a scene.
这种新闻在电视上屡见不鲜。
This kind of news is common on TV.
Predicate usage.
在那个地方，下雨是屡见不鲜的事。
In that place, raining is a common occurrence.
Uses '...是屡见不鲜的事'.
他迟到的理由总是屡见不鲜。
His reasons for being late are always the same old ones.
Implies lack of novelty.
这种小广告在街上屡见不鲜。
These small advertisements are a common sight on the street.
Simple predicate usage.
随着科技的发展，这种网络问题已经屡见不鲜了。
With the development of technology, these network problems have become common.
Shows cause and effect with frequency.
在现代职场中，加班已经成了屡见不鲜的现象。
In the modern workplace, working overtime has become a common phenomenon.
Uses '成了...的现象' structure.
虽然这种错误屡见不鲜，但我们还是要小心。
Although this mistake is common, we still need to be careful.
Used in a contrastive sentence with '虽然'.
这种商业欺诈在过去几年中屡见不鲜。
This kind of business fraud has been a common occurrence in the past few years.
Specifies a time frame.
在那个国家，这种政治丑闻早已屡见不鲜。
In that country, this kind of political scandal has long been a common occurrence.
Uses '早已' for emphasis.
对于经验丰富的医生来说，这种病例屡见不鲜。
For experienced doctors, this kind of case is common.
Relates frequency to professional experience.
在二手车市场，调表的情况屡见不鲜。
In the second-hand car market, situations of odometer tampering are common.
Specific industry context.
这种由于疏忽导致的火灾在森林里屡见不鲜。
Fires caused by negligence like this are common in forests.
Formal description of a phenomenon.
这种由于管理不善导致的亏损在初创企业中屡见不鲜。
Losses caused by poor management are common among startups.
Detailed subject with the idiom as predicate.
在信息爆炸的时代，个人隐私泄露的案例早已屡见不鲜。
In the era of information explosion, cases of personal privacy leaks have long been common.
Uses '早已' to indicate a long-standing issue.
面对这种屡见不鲜的社会偏见，我们需要更多的教育。
Facing such common social prejudice, we need more education.
Used as an attributive modifying 'social prejudice'.
这种“以次充好”的商业行为在市场上屡见不鲜，消费者应提高警惕。
The practice of passing off inferior goods as high quality is common in the market; consumers should be vigilant.
Combines a specific term '以次充好' with the idiom.
在好莱坞，由于预算超支导致电影停拍的事屡见不鲜。
In Hollywood, it's common for movies to stop production due to budget overruns.
Complex subject describing a specific situation.
虽然这种技术故障在初期屡见不鲜，但通过改进已经解决了。
Although this technical failure was common in the early stages, it has been resolved through improvements.
Contrasts past frequency with current resolution.
在学术界，这种为了追求名利而造假的行为虽然屡见不鲜，但终究会被发现。
In academia, although fraud for fame and fortune is common, it will eventually be discovered.
Moral judgment combined with the idiom.
对于这种屡见不鲜的借口，老师已经不再相信了。
The teacher no longer believes this common excuse.
Attributive usage in a negative context.
在快节奏的消费主义文化中，产品的快速迭代和淘汰已是屡见不鲜的常态。
In the fast-paced consumerist culture, the rapid iteration and obsolescence of products has become a common norm.
Sophisticated subject matter and noun phrase '屡见不鲜的常态'.
这种看似偶然实则必然的经济危机在历史上屡见不鲜，反映了资本市场的固有缺陷。
Economic crises that seem accidental but are actually inevitable are common in history, reflecting the inherent flaws of capital markets.
Analytical tone and complex sentence structure.
在文学创作中，借古讽今的手法屡见不鲜，旨在通过历史影射现实。
In literary creation, the technique of using the past to satirize the present is common, aiming to allude to reality through history.
Literary analysis context.
尽管这种由于算法偏见导致的不公正待遇屡见不鲜，但相关的法律监管仍显滞后。
Despite the common occurrence of unfair treatment due to algorithmic bias, relevant legal regulations still lag behind.
Discusses advanced topics like algorithmic bias.
在职场政治中，这种为了上位而不择手段的案例屡见不鲜，令人唏嘘。
In workplace politics, cases of using any means necessary to get promoted are common, which is quite saddening.
Expresses emotional commentary '令人唏嘘'.
这种由贫富差距拉大而引发的社会动荡，在发展中国家的转型期屡见不鲜。
Social unrest triggered by the widening gap between rich and poor is common during the transition period of developing countries.
Sociological and economic context.
对于资深的人力资源经理来说，简历造假这种屡见不鲜的行为早已见怪不怪。
For senior HR managers, the common behavior of resume fraud is something they have long since become accustomed to.
Combines '屡见不鲜' with another idiom '见怪不怪'.
在国际关系中，大国为了自身利益而违背诺言的情况屡见不鲜，这正是现实主义政治的体现。
In international relations, situations where great powers break promises for their own interests are common, which is a reflection of realpolitik.
High-level political analysis.
在人类文明的宏大叙事中，文明的兴起与陨落本是屡见不鲜的历史律动，然而每一次个体的挣扎都显得如此沉重。
In the grand narrative of human civilization, the rise and fall of civilizations are originally common historical rhythms, yet every individual struggle feels so heavy.
Philosophical and poetic usage.
这种由于信息不对称而导致的道德风险在金融衍生品市场屡见不鲜，甚至曾一度引发全球性的金融风暴。
Moral hazards caused by information asymmetr
Related Content
Related Phrases
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
