hundred flowers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “hundred flowers” mean?
A phrase referring literally to the numeral one hundred (100) and the plural form of the word for a seed-bearing plant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A phrase referring literally to the numeral one hundred (100) and the plural form of the word for a seed-bearing plant.
Most famously, an allusion to the Chinese political slogan 'Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend' from the 1950s, used metaphorically to denote a period of open criticism or diverse artistic/intellectual expression, often preceding a crackdown.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Recognition of the historical reference may vary slightly based on educational curricula.
Connotations
Identical strong historical/political connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; appears almost solely in historical, political, or sinological contexts. Slightly higher frequency in academic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “hundred flowers” in a Sentence
The [Hundred Flowers] [noun] (Campaign, period)to [verb] a hundred flowers (let bloom)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hundred flowers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The leadership briefly seemed to encourage people to let a hundred flowers bloom.
American English
- They paid a heavy price for having let a hundred flowers bloom.
adjective
British English
- The Hundred Flowers period was short-lived but influential.
American English
- She wrote her thesis on Hundred Flowers-era literature.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Potentially as a rare metaphor for encouraging diverse ideas in brainstorming.
Academic
Primary context. Used in history, political science, and Asian studies to refer to the 1956-57 Chinese campaign.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would likely be misunderstood if used without explicit context.
Technical
A specific historical term within China studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hundred flowers”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hundred flowers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hundred flowers”
- Using it as a general phrase for variety (e.g., 'The market has a hundred flowers of products').
- Capitalisation error: not capitalising when referring to the Campaign ('Hundred Flowers').
- Misidentifying the time period or country of origin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can, but its primary modern use is as a proper noun referring to the 'Hundred Flowers Campaign' in Maoist China.
The period of open criticism was followed by the Anti-Rightist Campaign, a crackdown on those who had spoken out.
It is not an everyday phrase. Using it will almost always signal a reference to the specific historical event and requires your audience to understand that context.
Yes, when referring to the specific historical campaign or period, it is treated as a proper noun and capitalised (the Hundred Flowers Campaign).
A phrase referring literally to the numeral one hundred (100) and the plural form of the word for a seed-bearing plant.
Hundred flowers is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Hundred flowers: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌn.drəd ˈflaʊ.əz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhʌn.drɪd ˈflaʊ.ɚz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let a hundred flowers bloom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a garden with exactly 100 flowers that are allowed to grow freely for a short time before a frost (crackdown) kills them.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLECTUAL DEBATE IS A GARDEN; CRITICISM IS FLOWERS; SUPPRESSION IS A FROST/WINTER.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern usage of 'hundred flowers'?