zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī: 众所周知 - As everyone knows, It is common knowledge

• Keywords: 众所周知, zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, Chinese for as everyone knows, it is well known Chinese, Chinese idiom, chengyu, common knowledge, how to say obviously in Chinese, Chinese formal language, HSK 6 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the Chinese idiom (chengyu) 众所周知 (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī). This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use this formal phrase, which translates to “as everyone knows” or “it is common knowledge.” Discover its cultural significance, see practical example sentences, and understand common mistakes to avoid.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ), Adverbial Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: It is well-known that; as everyone knows.
• In a Nutshell: 众所周知 is a formal, four-character idiom used to introduce a fact that is widely known and accepted by the public. It sets a formal tone and establishes a piece of information as a shared, undisputed starting point for a discussion. Think of it as the formal Chinese equivalent of “It is a universally acknowledged truth that…”

• 众 (zhòng): Crowd, multitude, the public. Imagine three people (人) together, forming a crowd.
• 所 (suǒ): A grammatical particle that can mean “that which is…” or “the one who…”. Here, it works with the following verb.
• 周 (zhōu): All-around, comprehensive, thorough, complete.
• 知 (zhī): To know, to be aware of.

These characters combine literally to mean: “That which is (所) comprehensively (周) known (知) by the crowd (众).” This paints a perfect picture of the idiom's meaning: a fact known by everyone, everywhere.

• The Weight of Chengyu: As a 成语 (chéngyǔ), 众所周知 carries more weight than a simple conversational phrase. Using chengyu demonstrates education and a good command of the language. This idiom is frequently used in written Chinese, news broadcasts, and formal speeches to lend authority and credibility to a statement.
• Establishing Common Ground: In Chinese culture, establishing a shared understanding is often an important first step in communication. Using 众所周知 is a powerful way to say, “We all agree on this basic fact, so let's proceed from there.” It builds a foundation of consensus before introducing a new argument or piece of information.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: While English has phrases like “as everyone knows” or “it goes without saying,” they are often used more casually. 众所周知 is almost exclusively used in more formal or written contexts. It's less like a conversational “y'know” and more like the formal introductory clause, “It is a well-established fact that…” you might find in an academic paper or a political speech.

• Formal Writing and Speeches: This is the most common context. You will see it constantly in news articles, official documents, research papers, and formal presentations.
  • e.g., “众所周知，环保是一个全球性的问题。” (As is well-known, environmental protection is a global issue.)
• Formal Conversation: In a serious discussion or debate, someone might use it to anchor their argument in a commonly accepted reality.
• Slightly Humorous or Ironic Use: In less formal situations, you might hear it used with a slightly mock-serious or ironic tone to state something obvious about a friend.
  • e.g., “众所周知，小王是咱们公司最会迟到的人。” (As everyone knows, Xiao Wang is the person in our company most likely to be late.)
• Connotation: The connotation is generally neutral and objective. However, it can be used rhetorically to subtly pressure listeners into accepting a premise. By declaring something as “known by all,” it makes it socially awkward to disagree.

• Example 1:
  • 众所周知，长城是中国的象征之一。
  • Pinyin: Zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, Chángchéng shì Zhōngguó de xiàngzhēng zhī yī.
  • English: As everyone knows, the Great Wall is one of the symbols of China.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect, textbook example. The statement is an undisputed, widely-known fact, making the use of the idiom appropriate and natural.
• Example 2:
  • 众所周知，吸烟有害健康。
  • Pinyin: Zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, xīyān yǒuhài jiànkāng.
  • English: It is common knowledge that smoking is harmful to your health.
  • Analysis: Used here to introduce a public health message that is considered universally accepted.
• Example 3:
  • 他是这个领域的专家，这一点众所周知。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì zhège lǐngyù de zhuānjiā, zhè yī diǎn zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī.
  • English: He is an expert in this field; this point is well-known.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom is placed at the end of the sentence for emphasis, confirming the preceding statement as common knowledge.
• Example 4:
  • 众所周知，水在零度时会结冰。
  • Pinyin: Zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, shuǐ zài líng dù shí huì jié bīng.
  • English: As is well-known, water freezes at zero degrees.
  • Analysis: Used to state a basic scientific fact that serves as a foundation for a more complex explanation.
• Example 5:
  • 尽管众所周知锻炼对身体好，但很多人还是懒得动。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī duànliàn duì shēntǐ hǎo, dàn hěnduō rén háishì lǎn dé dòng.
  • English: Although it's common knowledge that exercise is good for you, many people are still too lazy to move.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how the idiom can be used in a complex sentence with a contrasting clause, starting with “although” (尽管).
• Example 6:
  • 众所周知，这次合作对我们两家公司都至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, zhè cì hézuò duì wǒmen liǎng jiā gōngsī dōu zhì guān zhòngyào.
  • English: As everyone knows, this collaboration is of critical importance to both of our companies.
  • Analysis: A typical use in a business context, establishing the shared importance of a project before discussing details.
• Example 7:
  • 众所周知，你是个夜猫子，这么早给你打电话真不好意思。
  • Pinyin: Zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, nǐ shì ge yèmāozi, zhème zǎo gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà zhēn bù hǎoyìsi.
  • English: As everyone knows, you're a night owl, so I'm really sorry for calling you this early.
  • Analysis: This shows the slightly informal, friendly, and somewhat humorous use of a formal idiom to state an obvious fact about a person.
• Example 8:
  • 熊猫是中国的国宝，这是众所周知的事实。
  • Pinyin: Xióngmāo shì Zhōngguó de guóbǎo, zhè shì zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī de shìshí.
  • English: The panda is China's national treasure; this is a well-known fact.
  • Analysis: The idiom is used here as an adjective modifying “fact” (事实).
• Example 9:
  • 我们的政策基于一个众所周知的原则：客户第一。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de zhèngcè jīyú yī ge zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī de yuánzé: kèhù dì yī.
  • English: Our policy is based on a well-known principle: the customer comes first.
  • Analysis: Another adjectival use, modifying “principle” (原则).
• Example 10:
  • 众所周知，信息技术正在深刻地改变着我们的社会。
  • Pinyin: Zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī, xìnxī jìshù zhèngzài shēnkè de gǎibiàn zhe wǒmen de shèhuì.
  • English: It is well-known that information technology is profoundly changing our society.
  • Analysis: A classic example from a formal news report or academic article, discussing broad societal trends.

• Mistake 1: Overly Casual Use.
  • A common error is treating 众所周知 like the English “you know” or “like”. It is a formal idiom and sounds strange in very casual, slang-filled conversations.
  • Incorrect: ``嘿，哥们儿，众所周知，昨晚那电影超赞的！`` (Hey, bro, like, everyone knows that movie last night was awesome!)
  • Why it's wrong: The mix of formal idiom and casual slang is jarring. A more natural phrase would be ``大家都知道 (dàjiā dōu zhīdào)``.
• Mistake 2: Stating Personal or Obscure Information.
  • The information following 众所周知 MUST be genuinely common knowledge. Using it for your own personal information is incorrect and can sound arrogant or just plain weird.
  • Incorrect: ``众所周知，我最喜欢的颜色是蓝色。`` (As everyone knows, my favorite color is blue.)
  • Why it's wrong: Unless you are a world-famous celebrity whose favorite color is public knowledge, this is not something “everyone knows.”
• False Friend: “Obviously” (显而易见, xiǎn'ér'yì'jiàn)
  • While there is overlap, they are not the same. 众所周知 means “known by the public.” 显而易见 means “easy to see or deduce from the evidence.”
  • Correct (Obvious): The floor is wet, so 显而易见, someone spilled water. (The evidence is right there).
  • Correct (Well-known): 众所周知, the Earth revolves around the Sun. (This is a fact known by society).
  • You wouldn't use 众所周知 for the spilled water example, as it's not a piece of public knowledge, but rather a logical conclusion.

• 人所共知 (rén suǒ gòng zhī) - A very close synonym meaning “known by all people.” It is almost perfectly interchangeable with 众所周知.
• 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo) - “Known by every household.” More descriptive and vivid, often used for famous people, stories, songs, or brands.
• 显而易见 (xiǎn ér yì jiàn) - “Obvious” or “self-evident.” Refers to something that is logically apparent, not necessarily widely known.
• 不言而喻 (bù yán ér yù) - “It goes without saying; self-evident.” Implies something is so obvious it requires no explanation.
• 妇孺皆知 (fù rú jiē zhī) - “Known even by women and children.” A more archaic and emphatic way to say something is extremely well-known and simple.
• 常识 (chángshí) - (Noun) “Common sense” or “common knowledge.” 众所周知 is the phrase used to introduce a piece of 常识.