zung3 ci2 zi1 dik1眾矢之的众矢之的

Jyutpingzung3 ci2 zi1 dik1

Yalejung chí jī dīk

Definition

Lit. target of a multitude of arrows (idiom); the butt of public criticism

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How it's used

This idiom carries a formal and literary weight that makes it sound quite serious or dramatic in conversation. It is typically reserved for situations involving public scrutiny, media backlash, or intense group disapproval rather than minor personal disagreements. Because of its strong imagery, it is often used to emphasize how isolated or surrounded a person feels when everyone turns against them.

Examples

keoi5 zou6 co3 zo2 je5 zik1 hak1 bin3 sing4 zung3 ci2 zi1 dik1

佢做錯咗嘢，即刻變成眾矢之的。

He did something wrong and immediately became the target of public criticism.

dim2 gaai2 nei5 jiu3 ling6 dou3 zi6 gei2 bin3 sing4 zung3 ci2 zi1 dik1 aa4

點解你要令自己變成眾矢之的呀？

Why do you want to make yourself the target of everyone's attacks?

Common phrases

leon4 wai4 zung3 ci2 zi1 dik1

淪為眾矢之的

to be reduced to becoming the target of public criticism

sing4 wai4 zung3 ci2 zi1 dik1

成為眾矢之的

to become the target of public criticism

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say someone is being teased or picked on. It is actually quite heavy and implies a collective, often hostile, focus on the individual, so using it for lighthearted situations sounds unnatural or overly intense.