三人成虎 “Three men create a tiger"
(Click here to go to 三人成虎 “Three men create a tiger”, part 1)
The king replied, “If everyone were saying this, how could it be false. This is a story that I would believe.”
“But your Majesty, it is quite impossible for a tiger to appear in the middle of the street during the daytime. This is most apparent. But you would believe this on the basis of the testimony of three people.
“I am about to to accompany the prince far away to the capital of Zhao. I am certain that more than three people will speak poorly of me behind my back during my absence. I would ask Your Majesty carefully investigate their claims rather than accept them without question.”
The king acknowledged that he was aware of Pang Cong’s concern and urged him not to worry about the matter.
It was no surprise that after Pang Cong left with the prince that people started to slander against him to the king. At first, the king doubted the claims, but the more accusations he heard, the more he believed them. His confidence in Pang Cong was shaken.
Upon the return of the prince to Wei, the king did not grant Pang Cong an audience and after that time, he no longer assigned any important tasks to him.
The idiom 三人成虎 “three men create a tiger” means that people should not people’s claims at face value, but to think carefully about them before believing them. It also means that a story can gain credibility as it is passed on.
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The way I take it, or I think most Chinese would take this Idiom is slightly different from what you’re saying. the meaning of 三人成虎 is actually closer to “Repeat a lie a thousand times and it becomes the truth”. LOL apparently we Chinese only need 3 people to repeat it. It’s very close to what you’re saying, but slightly different.