Chinese idiom · 成语
家喻户晓
Meaning
Known to every household; widely famous.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary and administrative usageEarlier expressions describe making something known from household to household. In Liu Xiang's Lienü zhuan, a woman in Liang fears she cannot explain a disastrous rescue attempt to everyone: she meant to save her nephew from a fire but brought out her own child instead. The story's phrase is 户告人晓. It ends tragically and reflects the severe demands placed on reputation in that collection.
Song sources use related wording such as 家至户晓 and 家谕户晓 when discussing the difficulty of personally explaining public affairs to every family. The modern idiom shifts the emphasis from the act of informing each household to its result: something is widely known.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
这首歌陪伴了几代人成长，早已家喻户晓。
This song has accompanied several generations as they grew up and has long been a household favorite.
Describes very widespread recognition; stronger than being known within a small group.