比比皆是

• Pinyin: bǐ bǐ jiē shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 比 = two people side by side; 皆 = 比 + 白 (all); 是 = 日 + 正 (to be)

Meaning

Can be found everywhere; ubiquitous; extremely common.

An idiom meaning something is so common that examples can be found everywhere you look. Often used to describe prevalent phenomena, whether positive or negative. Emphasizes abundance and frequency.

Examples

1. 现在网上的假消息比比皆是，大家一定要学会辨别。 Fake news is everywhere online nowadays — people really need to learn to tell fact from fiction.
2. 在这个城市，共享单车比比皆是，出行非常方便。 Bike-sharing is ubiquitous in this city, making getting around super convenient.
3. 名牌店在这条街上比比皆是，简直是购物天堂。 Designer stores are everywhere on this street — it's a shopping paradise.

Usage Guide

Context: commentary, observation, critique

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 这种现象比比皆是。(This phenomenon is everywhere.)
• 成功的案例比比皆是。(Successful cases abound.)

Don't Say

• 用'比比皆是'形容稀有事物 (Don't use 比比皆是 for rare things — it specifically means extremely common)

Origin & History

比比 (one after another, in great numbers) + 皆 (all) + 是 (are). All of them are everywhere.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal