Definition
This chengyu literally means 'to raise an army and mobilize the masses', originating from military strategy. In modern usage, it describes situations where someone involves an excessive number of people to accomplish a task, often with unnecessary fanfare or inefficiency. It carries a mildly critical or exasperated tone.
f.e.
(chengyu) to mobilize a large number of peopleoften unnecessarilyto make a big fuss
Examples
- ，兴师动众？Tā bānjiā zhǐbuguò jǐ jiàn xíngli, hébì xīng de jiào lái shí jǐ gè rén?He's only moving a few pieces of luggage — why did he have to mobilize a crowd and call over a dozen people?
- ，兴师动众。Zhè jiàn xiǎo shì wǒmen liǎng gè rén jiù néng jiějué, búyòng xīng.This small matter can be handled by the two of us; there's no need to make a big fuss.
- 兴师动众，。Gōngsī wèile yí gè jiǎndān de huódòng jiù xīng, jiéguǒ làngfèi le hěnduō zīyuán.The company mobilized too many people for a simple event, and as a result wasted a lot of resources.
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