# 乌合之众

wū hé zhī zhòng

A disorganized crowd lacking cohesion

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A gathering like scattered crows

**Traditional Chinese:** 烏合之眾

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize a group without discipline or shared organization.

A contemptuous label; size alone does not justify it.

## Understanding the expression

A loosely gathered flock provides an image of people assembled without reliable coordination. The expression describes a crowd that lacks discipline, leadership, or a common effective purpose. It often carries contempt and appears in accounts of conflict. Informal groups can still cooperate intelligently, however. The label should not be used merely because participants are unfamiliar or lack official status; the relevant issue is how poorly they function together in the described situation.

## Examples

没有训练，这队人像乌合之众。

### Traditional Chinese

沒有訓練，這隊人像烏合之眾。

méi yǒu xùn liàn ， zhè duì rén xiàng wū hé zhī zhòng 。

Without training, this group resembled a disorganized rabble.

他误把志愿者当作乌合之众。

### Traditional Chinese

他誤把志願者當作烏合之眾。

tā wù bǎ zhì yuàn zhě dàng zuò wū hé zhī zhòng 。

He wrongly dismissed the volunteers as an undisciplined crowd.

队伍各行其是，成了乌合之众。

### Traditional Chinese

隊伍各行其是，成了烏合之眾。

duì wu gè háng qí shì ， chéng le wū hé zhī zhòng 。

Everyone acted independently, turning the group into a disorganized crowd.

统一指挥后，他们不再是乌合之众。

### Traditional Chinese

統一指揮後，他們不再是烏合之眾。

tǒng yī zhǐ huī hòu ， tā men bú zài shì wū hé zhī zhòng 。

With coordinated leadership, they were no longer an undisciplined crowd.

## 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=%E7%83%8F%E5%90%88%E4%B9%8B%E7%9C%BE)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=892&webMd=1&la=0)

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