Definition
This idiom means 'known to all passersby' — something or someone so widely known that nobody on the street would be unaware. It emphasizes a high degree of notoriety or fame and is often used for public figures, scandals, or open secrets. The literal breakdown is 路人 (passerby) + 皆 (all) + 知 (know), so it reads as 'every passerby knows'. Unlike the English 'household name', 路人皆知 carries a slightly stronger sense of 'everyone and their mother knows'.
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(chengyu) known to everyonea household name
Examples
- 路人皆知，。Zhè jiàn shì yǐjīng lù rén jiē zhī, nǐ jiù búyòng zài yǐnmán le.This matter is already known to everyone, so you don't need to hide it anymore.
- ，路人皆知。Zài nàge xiǎochéng lǐ, tā de míngshēng lù rén jiē zhī.In that small town, his reputation is a household name.
- 路人皆知，。Tāmen de máodùn zǎoyǐ lù rén jiē zhī, zhǐshì méi rén gōngkāi tánlùn.Their conflict has long been an open secret; people just don't talk about it openly.
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