# 不胜枚举

bù shèng méi jǔ

Too numerous to list individually

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Unable to finish counting them one by one

**Traditional Chinese:** 不勝枚舉

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Indicate a great number of examples.

Does not supply evidence by itself.

## Understanding the expression

Listing items one after another eventually exceeds what a speaker can reasonably finish. The expression highlights abundance, often before or after a few representative examples. It works for achievements, mistakes, attractions, or cases supporting a point. It does not mean the items are literally impossible to count. In an argument, several clear examples still matter; claiming there are too many to list is not a substitute for demonstrating the pattern.

## Examples

类似案例不胜枚举。

### Traditional Chinese

類似案例不勝枚舉。

lèi sì àn lì bù shèng méi jǔ 。

Similar cases are too numerous to list.

这座城的美食不胜枚举。

### Traditional Chinese

這座城的美食不勝枚舉。

zhè zuò chéng de měi shí bù shèng méi jǔ 。

The city’s delicious foods are too numerous to mention individually.

他的贡献不胜枚举。

### Traditional Chinese

他的貢獻不勝枚舉。

tā de gòng xiàn bù shèng méi jǔ 。

His contributions are too numerous to enumerate.

书中的错误不胜枚举。

### Traditional Chinese

書中的錯誤不勝枚舉。

shū zhōng de cuò wù bù shèng méi jǔ 。

The book contains too many errors to list individually.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E5%8B%9D%E6%9E%9A%E8%88%89)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=735&webMd=1&la=0)

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