人山人海
rén shān rén hǎi
Vast crowds of people
Crowds of people are so numerous that they resemble mountains and seas. It vividly describes a scene with an overwhelming number of people.
What does 人山人海 (rén shān rén hǎi) mean?
人山人海 (rén shān rén hǎi) means "vast crowds of people" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "people mountain people sea."
Character by character
- 人 rén person
- 山 shān mountain
- 人 rén person
- 海 hǎi sea
When to use it
Use this idiom to describe extremely crowded places like public squares, concerts, or popular tourist attractions. It conveys a sense of overwhelming density and activity, often implying difficulty in moving through the crowd.
Example
广场上人山人海,挨挤得很。
Guǎngchǎng shàng rén shān rén hǎi, āijǐ de hěn.
The square was packed with people, so crowded that everyone was pushing and shoving.
Pro tip: The imagery of 'mountains' and 'seas' emphasizes the sheer scale and density of the crowd, not just a large number of individuals. It suggests an almost impassable mass of humanity.
Related idioms
取长补短 · Leveraging strengths and weaknesses全力以赴 · Full effort dedication神机妙算 · Divine foresight and clever strategy
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →