# 众口铄金

zhòng kǒu shuò jīn

Repeated public claims can overwhelm the truth

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Many mouths can melt metal

**Traditional Chinese:** 眾口鑠金

**Register:** Formal · literary

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

## When to use it

Warn about the power of rumor and collective pressure.

Widespread agreement is not always false.

## Understanding the expression

Metal seems firm, yet many mouths are imagined to melt it through collective force. The expression warns that repeated accusations or rumors can damage even a strong reputation and blur the difference between fact and assertion. Its focus is the social power of repetition. A widely shared claim may still be true, but popularity alone does not establish it. Checking independent evidence matters especially when a person cannot easily answer every repeated allegation.

## Examples

谣言不断，真是众口铄金。

### Traditional Chinese

謠言不斷，真是眾口鑠金。

yáo yán bú duàn ， zhēn shì zhòng kǒu shuò jīn 。

The relentless rumors show how repeated claims can overwhelm truth.

她坚持核查，不让众口铄金。

### Traditional Chinese

她堅持核查，不讓眾口鑠金。

tā jiān chí hé chá ， bú ràng zhòng kǒu shuò jīn 。

She insisted on verification so public clamor would not obscure the truth.

众口铄金，清白的人也可能受害。

### Traditional Chinese

眾口鑠金，清白的人也可能受害。

zhòng kǒu shuò jīn ， qīng bái de rén yě kě néng shòu hài 。

Collective rumors can harm even an innocent person.

网络上众口铄金，更须看证据。

### Traditional Chinese

網絡上眾口鑠金，更須看證據。

wǎng luò shàng zhòng kǒu shuò jīn ， gèng xū kàn zhèng jù 。

With online clamor so powerful, evidence matters even more.

## 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%9C%BE%E5%8F%A3%E9%91%A0%E9%87%91)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=915&webMd=1&la=0)

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