多多益善

Chinese

		much; a lot; lots and lots much; a lot; lots and lots; a great deal; more; even more	benefit; increase	good
trad. (多多益善)		多多	益	善
simp. #(多多益善)		多多	益	善

Etymology

From Shiji:

上常從容與信言諸將能不，各有差。上問曰：「如我能將幾何？」信曰：「陛下不過能將十萬。」上曰：「於君何如？」曰：「臣多多而益善耳。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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上常从容与信言诸将能不，各有差。上问曰：「如我能将几何？」信曰：「陛下不过能将十万。」上曰：「于君何如？」曰：「臣多多而益善耳。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

Shàng cháng cóngróng yǔ Xìn yán zhū jiàng néng bù, gè yǒu chā. Shàng wèn yuē: “Rú wǒ néng jiàng jǐhé?” Xìn yuē: “Bìxià bùguò néng jiàng shí wàn.” Shàng yuē: “Yú jūn hérú?” Yuē: “Chén duōduō ér yì shàn ěr.” [Pinyin]

His majesty chatted with Han Xin about the capabilities of the generals. Each had their shortcomings. His majesty asked, "How many troops could I lead?" Han Xin replied, "Your highness should not lead more than 100,000." His majesty said, "And what about you?" "For your humble servant, the more the merrier!" said Han Xin.

• This quote lead to the famous saying: 韓信點兵，多多益善／韩信点兵，多多益善 (“Han Xin counts his troops, the more the merrier”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): duōduōyìshàn

  (Zhuyin): ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧˋ ㄕㄢˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): do¹ do¹ jik¹ sin⁶

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: duōduōyìshàn
    • Zhuyin: ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧˋ ㄕㄢˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: duoduoyìshàn
    • Wade–Giles: to¹-to¹-i⁴-shan⁴
    • Yale: dwō-dwō-yì-shàn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: duoduoyihshann
    • Palladius: додоишань (dodoišanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: do¹ do¹ jik¹ sin⁶
    • Yale: dō dō yīk sihn
    • Cantonese Pinyin: do¹ do¹ jik⁷ sin⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: do¹ do¹ yig¹ xin⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɔː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ siːn²²/

Proverb

1. the more the merrier

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Korean

Hanja in this term
多	多	益	善

Noun

多多益善 • (dadaikseon) (hangeul 다다익선)

1. hanja form^? of 다다익선 (“the more the merrier”)