How do you pronounce 一言九鼎?

一言九鼎 is pronounced as "yī yán jiǔ dǐng" in Mandarin Chinese.

一言九鼎

Q: What does 一言九鼎 mean?

一言九鼎 (yī yán jiǔ dǐng) literally means "Words heavy as nine cauldrons" and metaphorically means "Words carry great weight". It belongs to the Relationships & Character category of Chinese idioms.

Q: When is 一言九鼎 used?

一言九鼎 is used when The CEO's brief statement immediately restored investor confidence.

一言九鼎 (yī yán jiǔ dǐng) literally means “words heavy as nine cauldrons” and expresses “words carry great weight”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.

Also searched as: yi yan jiu ding, yi yan jiu ding,一言九鼎 meaning, 一言九鼎 in english

Words carry great weight

Pronunciation: yī yán jiǔ dǐng Literal meaning: Words heavy as nine cauldrons

Origin & Usage

The nine bronze cauldrons cast by Yu were the physical emblem of the mandate, passed from dynasty to dynasty and impossibly heavy. The Records of the Grand Historian gives the phrase its setting: after Mao Sui talked Chu into an alliance, the Lord of Pingyuan said that Mao's single visit had made Zhao weightier than the nine cauldrons. So one word (一言) balances nine (九) cauldrons (鼎). It describes a person whose undertaking needs no contract, and it is used of promises rather than of opinions.

Examples

English: "The CEO's brief statement immediately restored investor confidence"

Chinese: CEO简短的声明立即恢复了投资者的信心

Related Chinese Idioms

Similar idioms about relationships & character

守正不阿

shǒu zhèng bù ē

Keep integrity without compromise

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一鸣惊人

yī míng jīng rén

Sudden, remarkable success

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九牛一毛

jiǔ niú yī máo

A drop in the bucket; negligible amount

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破釜沉舟

pò fǔ chén zhōu

Commit with no retreat

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鼎力相助

dǐng lì xiāng zhù

Substantial support

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一石二鸟

yī shí èr niǎo

Two goals with one action

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一丝不苟

yī sī bù gǒu

Extremely careful and thorough

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一叶障目

yī yè zhàng mù

Miss big picture

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 一言九鼎 mean in English?

一言九鼎 (yī yán jiǔ dǐng) literally translates to “Words heavy as nine cauldrons” and is used to express “Words carry great weight”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.