yì kǒu tóng shēng: 异口同声 - With One Voice, Unanimously

• Keywords: yikoutongsheng, yi kou tong sheng, 异口同声, unanimously in Chinese, with one voice in Chinese, Chinese idiom for agreement, how to say everyone agrees in Chinese, chengyu for consensus, speak in unison Chinese.
• Summary: The Chinese idiom (chengyu) 异口同声 (yì kǒu tóng shēng) literally translates to “different mouths, same voice.” It vividly describes a situation where multiple people say the exact same thing at the same time, expressing unanimous agreement or a shared, spontaneous reaction. This is a key term for understanding the cultural value of consensus and harmony in Chinese communication.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yì kǒu tóng shēng
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) / Idiom, often functions as an adverb or adjective.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To speak with one voice; to say the same thing in unison; unanimously.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a teacher asks a class “Is this clear?” and all the students shout back “Clear!” at the same time. That perfect, simultaneous agreement is 异口同声. This idiom paints a powerful picture of complete unity in speech, where a group acts as a single entity. It's not just about agreeing; it's about the audible, collective expression of that agreement.

• 异 (yì): Different, other.
• 口 (kǒu): Mouth. (This is a pictograph of an open mouth).
• 同 (tóng): Same, identical, together.
• 声 (shēng): Voice, sound.

The characters combine literally to mean “different mouths, same voice.” This beautiful and straightforward structure makes the idiom's meaning unforgettable. It describes a group of individuals who, despite having their own mouths, produce a single, unified sound. (Traditional characters: 異口同聲)

• Harmony and Consensus: 异口同声 is deeply connected to the Chinese cultural value of harmony (和谐, héxié) and collectivism. In many situations, achieving a state where everyone is in such complete agreement that they “speak with one voice” is considered the ideal outcome. It signifies that the group is unified, has resolved all differences, and is moving forward together.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: In Western, particularly American, culture, a “vigorous debate” with many differing opinions is often celebrated as a sign of a healthy, democratic process. The concept of “agreeing to disagree” is a common resolution. 异口同声, however, emphasizes the *end result* of perfect unity, not the process of debate. While a unanimous decision is also valued in the West, this idiom captures the powerful, often emotional, moment of its collective verbal expression. It's the sound of consensus made manifest.

• Describing Group Reactions: This is its most common use. It's perfect for describing a crowd cheering, a class answering a question, or a family responding to a suggestion. It's vivid and descriptive.
• Formal Settings: In a business meeting or official report, you might hear a phrase like “The board members 异口同声地同意了这项提议” (The board members agreed to the proposal with one voice). It adds a sense of strong, undeniable consensus.
• Informal & Humorous Use: Among friends, it can be used in a lighthearted way. If two people simultaneously shout “Let's get milk tea!”, a third friend might laugh and say, “Wow, you two really are 异口同声!”
• Connotation: It is overwhelmingly positive. It conveys unity, agreement, and shared enthusiasm.

• Example 1:
  • 老师问谁想当班长，同学们异口同声地喊出了小明的名字。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī wèn shéi xiǎng dāng bānzhǎng, tóngxuémen yì kǒu tóng shēng de hǎn chūle Xiǎo Míng de míngzì.
  • English: When the teacher asked who wanted to be the class monitor, the students shouted out Xiao Ming's name with one voice.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of use in a classroom. The adverbial particle `地 (de)` is often used after the idiom to modify the verb `喊 (hǎn)`.
• Example 2:
  • 当英雄出现时，人群异口同声地欢呼起来。
  • Pinyin: Dāng yīngxióng chūxiàn shí, rénqún yì kǒu tóng shēng de huānhū qǐlái.
  • English: When the hero appeared, the crowd began to cheer in unison.
  • Analysis: Here, it describes the spontaneous, shared emotional reaction of a large group of people.
• Example 3:
  • “我们去看电影吧！” 两个孩子异口同声地对妈妈说。
  • Pinyin: “Wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng ba!” liǎng gè háizi yì kǒu tóng shēng de duì māma shuō.
  • English: “Let's go see a movie!” the two children said to their mother in unison.
  • Analysis: This shows a simple, everyday use in an informal family setting.
• Example 4:
  • 对于这个计划，董事会成员异口同声地表示赞成。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú zhège jìhuà, dǒngshìhuì chéngyuán yì kǒu tóng shēng de biǎoshì zànchéng.
  • English: Regarding this plan, the board members unanimously expressed their approval.
  • Analysis: A more formal, business-oriented example. “Expressed approval with one voice” is the literal feeling here.
• Example 5:
  • 我们问大家想吃什么，他们异口同声地回答：“火锅！”
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen wèn dàjiā xiǎng chī shénme, tāmen yì kǒu tóng shēng de huídá: “Huǒguō!”
  • English: We asked everyone what they wanted to eat, and they answered in unison: “Hotpot!”
  • Analysis: A very common and practical example of friends making a decision together.
• Example 6:
  • 全体代表异口同声通过了这项决议。
  • Pinyin: Quántǐ dàibiǎo yì kǒu tóng shēng tōngguòle zhè xiàng juéyì.
  • English: All the delegates passed the resolution with one voice.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, the idiom acts more like an adverb modifying the verb `通过 (tōngguò)` without the `地 (de)`. This is common in more concise or written language.
• Example 7:
  • 大家都认为他是个好人，这几乎是异口同声的评价。
  • Pinyin: Dàjiā dōu rènwéi tā shì ge hǎorén, zhè jīhū shì yì kǒu tóng shēng de píngjià.
  • English: Everyone thinks he is a good person; this is a virtually unanimous assessment.
  • Analysis: Here, `异口同声` is used adjectivally with `的 (de)` to describe the “assessment” (评价). It implies that if you asked anyone, they would all give you the same positive answer.
• Example 8:
  • 听到这个好消息，办公室里的同事们异口同声地叫好。
  • Pinyin: Tīngdào zhège hǎo xiāoxi, bàngōngshì lǐ de tóngshìmen yì kǒu tóng shēng de jiàohǎo.
  • English: Upon hearing the good news, the colleagues in the office cheered with one voice.
  • Analysis: `叫好 (jiàohǎo)` means to applaud or cheer. This sentence paints a vivid picture of an office erupting in celebration.
• Example 9:
  • “当然不行！”他的父母异口同声地拒绝了他的请求。
  • Pinyin: “Dāngrán bùxíng!” tā de fùmǔ yì kǒu tóng shēng de jùjuéle tā de qǐngqiú.
  • English: “Of course not!” his parents rejected his request in unison.
  • Analysis: This shows that the idiom can also be used for unified disagreement or rejection, not just positive agreement. The key is the unity of speech.
• Example 10:
  • 当被问到谁是他们最喜欢的球员时，球迷们异口同声地高呼着他的名字。
  • Pinyin: Dāng bèi wèn dào shéi shì tāmen zuì xǐhuān de qiúyuán shí, qiúmímen yì kǒu tóng shēng de gāohū zhe tā de míngzì.
  • English: When asked who their favorite player was, the fans chanted his name in unison.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a powerful scene of fan adoration, a perfect context for this idiom.

• It's About Speaking: The most common mistake is to use 异口同声 simply to mean “unanimous” when no speaking is involved. The idiom requires an *audible, verbal* component. A silent, written vote can be unanimous (`一致通过, yīzhì tōngguò`), but it cannot be 异口同声.
  • Incorrect: The result of the secret ballot was 异口同声. (秘密投票的结果是异口同声的。)
  • Correct: The result of the secret ballot was unanimous. (秘密投票的结果是一致的。)
  • Correct: After the results were announced, the crowd cheered for the winner 异口同声. (结果公布后，人群异口同声地为获胜者欢呼。)
• Action vs. State of Being: 异口同声 describes the *action* of speaking together. `一致 (yīzhì)` describes the *state* of being in agreement. You can be in agreement (`意见一致`) without ever saying a word. You can only be 异口同声 when you speak.

• 众口一词 (zhòng kǒu yī cí) - A very close synonym meaning “many mouths, one word.” It emphasizes that many different people are all saying the same thing, though not necessarily at the exact same time.
• 七嘴八舌 (qī zuǐ bā shé) - A direct antonym. It means “seven mouths, eight tongues” and describes a chaotic situation where everyone is talking at once about different things.
• 不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng) - To do something together without prior arrangement. This is related as it describes spontaneous, unified *action*, while `异口同声` specifically describes spontaneous, unified *speech*.
• 一致 (yīzhì) - Unanimous, consistent, in agreement. This is the general state of agreement. `异口同声` is a vivid way of *expressing* that agreement.
• 同心协力 (tóng xīn xié lì) - To be of one heart and work together. This describes unity of purpose and effort, which is often the foundation for being able to speak with one voice.
• 随声附和 (suí shēng fù hè) - To echo others; to chime in without thinking. This has a negative connotation of being a “yes-man,” lacking independent thought, which is very different from the positive unity implied by `异口同声`.