# 三人成虎

sān rén chéng hǔ

Repeated rumor can seem believable

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Three people make a tiger

**Register:** Warning · literary

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

## When to use it

Warn that repeated claims may be mistaken for truth.

Repetition does not create evidence, even from multiple sources.

## Understanding the expression

An improbable tiger becomes believable when enough voices repeat the claim. The expression warns that social repetition can replace evidence in people's minds. Online reposts make the pattern especially easy to see: several accounts may all depend on the same unverified source. Counting voices is therefore not the same as checking independent facts. The useful response is to trace the information, examine its basis, and preserve uncertainty rather than turn popularity into proof.

## Examples

谣言反复传播，容易三人成虎。

### Traditional Chinese

謠言反覆傳播，容易三人成虎。

yáo yán fǎn fù chuán bō ， róng yì sān rén chéng hǔ 。

Repeated rumors can start to seem true.

别因很多人转发就信，谨防三人成虎。

### Traditional Chinese

別因很多人轉發就信，謹防三人成虎。

bié yīn hěn duō rén zhuǎn fā jiù xìn ， jǐn fáng sān rén chéng hǔ 。

Many reposts do not make a claim true.

老师用三人成虎解释信息核实的重要性。

### Traditional Chinese

老師用三人成虎解釋信息核實的重要性。

lǎo shī yòng sān rén chéng hǔ jiě shì xìn xī hé shí de zhòng yào xìng 。

The teacher used repeated rumor to explain verification.

这次误会就是三人成虎造成的。

### Traditional Chinese

這次誤會就是三人成虎造成的。

zhè cì wù huì jiù shì sān rén chéng hǔ zào chéng de 。

Repeated false reports created this misunderstanding.

## 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%89%E4%BA%BA%E6%88%90%E8%99%8E)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=683&webMd=1&la=0)

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