Use '不胜枚举' to emphasize that instances are so numerous that listing them all is impossible.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Too many examples to list them all individually.
- Used for both positive and negative contexts.
- Common in formal writing and professional speeches.
Overview
- 1概览：‘不胜枚举’（bù shèng méi jǔ）是一个常用的汉语成语。‘不胜’意为不能承受或不能尽；‘枚举’意为一个一个地举出。合起来表示事物太多，无法一一列举。2) 用法模式：该词在句中通常作谓语、定语或补语。它既可以形容积极的事物（如：优良事迹），也可以形容消极的事物（如：错误、罪行）。3) 常见语境：多见于正式的书面语、演讲或学术论文中，用来增强说服力，表明所举例子仅为冰山一角。4) 同义词辨析：与‘数不胜数’相比，‘不胜枚举’更侧重于‘列举’（listing）这一动作，而‘数不胜数’侧重于‘计数’（counting）。与‘举不胜举’意思基本相同，但‘不胜枚举’在书面表达中更为正式和常用。
Examples
关于这个话题的成功案例不胜枚举。
everydaySuccessful cases regarding this topic are too numerous to mention.
贵公司在环保领域所做的贡献不胜枚举，令人敬佩。
formalThe contributions your company has made in the field of environmental protection are countless and admirable.
网上的虚假信息不胜枚举，我们必须提高警惕。
informalFake information on the internet is countless; we must remain vigilant.
史料中关于此种现象的记载不胜枚举，足以证明其普遍性。
academicRecords of this phenomenon in historical materials are too numerous to list, which suffices to prove its prevalence.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
这类事不胜枚举
Cases of this kind are too numerous to mention.
好处不胜枚举
The benefits are countless.
Often Confused With
'Shù bù shèng shǔ' focuses on the sheer quantity being too large to count, while 'Bù shèng méi jǔ' focuses on the inability to list them all individually.
This is the direct antonym, meaning 'very few' or 'scanty'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The idiom '不胜枚举' maintains a high level of formality. It is rarely used in very casual spoken slang but is a staple in journalism, literature, and professional communication. It functions as a predicate (coming after the subject) or an attributive (modifying a noun).
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using it to describe a large group of people directly (e.g., 'The crowd was bù shèng méi jǔ'). It should instead describe the instances or attributes associated with people. Also, learners sometimes add 'very' (很) before it, which is redundant because the idiom already implies an extreme degree.
Tips
Enhance Your Formal Writing
Replace simple phrases like '有很多例子' (there are many examples) with '例子不胜枚举' to make your Chinese sound more sophisticated.
Avoid Redundancy with Degree Adverbs
Since '不胜' already implies a high degree, avoid using '非常' or '很' before '不胜枚举'.
Classical Chinese Roots
The structure of this idiom reflects classical Chinese grammar where '胜' acts as a verb meaning 'to be able to endure' or 'to finish'.
Word Origin
Derived from classical Chinese literature, where '枚' (méi) was a classifier for small objects and '举' (jǔ) meant to lift up or bring forward for attention.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, using four-character idioms (Chengyu) like this demonstrates education and literacy. It is a preferred way to express 'a lot' in professional and literary settings.
Memory Tip
Break it down: 'Bù shèng' (cannot finish) + 'Méi' (each/individual) + 'Jǔ' (to lift/mention). You can't finish mentioning each one!
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions通常不直接形容人，而是形容人的事迹、优点或错误。例如可以说‘他的先进事迹不胜枚举’，但不说‘他这个人不胜枚举’。
它是中性词。既可以用来形容好的事情（如：善举），也可以形容坏的事情（如：罪名）。
最常放在句尾作谓语，如‘例子不胜枚举’；也可以作定语，如‘不胜枚举的案例证明了这一点’。
‘不可胜数’侧重于数量大到数不清，而‘不胜枚举’侧重于例子多到举不完，后者更常用于指代具体的实例。
Test Yourself
他为社区做了很多好事，真是___。
‘不胜枚举’形容好事很多，符合语境；‘寥寥无几’是反义词。
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
B选项正确形容错误多到举不完。A选项形容学生人数通常用‘数不胜数’或具体数字；C选项‘只有两个’与意思矛盾；D选项语法错误，不能作状语。
1. 例子 2. 这种 3. 生活中 4. 在 5. 不胜枚举
‘在生活中，这种例子不胜枚举’ (In daily life, such examples are too numerous to mention).
Score: /3
Summary
Use '不胜枚举' to emphasize that instances are so numerous that listing them all is impossible.
- Too many examples to list them all individually.
- Used for both positive and negative contexts.
- Common in formal writing and professional speeches.
Enhance Your Formal Writing
Replace simple phrases like '有很多例子' (there are many examples) with '例子不胜枚举' to make your Chinese sound more sophisticated.
Avoid Redundancy with Degree Adverbs
Since '不胜' already implies a high degree, avoid using '非常' or '很' before '不胜枚举'.
Classical Chinese Roots
The structure of this idiom reflects classical Chinese grammar where '胜' acts as a verb meaning 'to be able to endure' or 'to finish'.
Examples
4 of 4关于这个话题的成功案例不胜枚举。
Successful cases regarding this topic are too numerous to mention.
贵公司在环保领域所做的贡献不胜枚举，令人敬佩。
The contributions your company has made in the field of environmental protection are countless and admirable.
网上的虚假信息不胜枚举，我们必须提高警惕。
Fake information on the internet is countless; we must remain vigilant.
史料中关于此种现象的记载不胜枚举，足以证明其普遍性。
Records of this phenomenon in historical materials are too numerous to list, which suffices to prove its prevalence.
Related Content
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
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).
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
大约
B1Used to show that a number or amount is not exact; approximately.
上边
A2above, on top
上面
A1on, above, over
