一字千钧 A word weighs a thousand pounds
Explanation
钧:古代重量单位,一钧等于三十斤。形容文字的分量很重,很有力量。
Jūn: an ancient Chinese unit of weight, one jūn equaled thirty jin. It describes the great importance and effect of characters.
Origin Story
话说唐朝诗人李白,诗才横溢,名震天下。一日,他应邀为一位富商作诗,富商对李白非常敬重,承诺以千金的价格购买李白创作的一首诗歌。李白欣然应允,提笔挥毫,不多时便写成一首诗,诗中字字珠玑,句句千钧。富商看完后,连连称赞,并如约支付了千金。但李白却说,这诗歌的价值远不止千金,而是千钧之重,因为它蕴含着深刻的哲理,对社会和人生都有着重要的启示。从此,“一字千钧”就成为了人们形容文章或言语分量很重的典故。
It is said that Li Bai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, whose poetic talent was outstanding and whose name echoed throughout the country, was once invited by a wealthy merchant to write a poem. The merchant respected Li Bai very much and promised to pay him a thousand gold pieces for a poem. Li Bai happily agreed and wrote a poem in a short time, whose words were like pearls strung together and whose sentences weighed a thousand pounds. After the merchant read the poem, he praised it highly and paid a thousand gold pieces as promised. However, Li Bai said that the value of the poem was far more than a thousand gold pieces, but as heavy as a thousand pounds, because it contained profound philosophy and had important implications for society and life. From that day on, “a word weighs a thousand pounds” became an idiom describing the great value and great effect of texts or words.
Usage
用于形容语言文字的分量很重,很有力量。
Used to describe that language or writing is very weighty and influential.
Examples
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这篇社论,一字千钧,掷地有声。
zhe pian she lun yi zi qian jun zhi di you sheng
This editorial is weighty and impressive.
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他的讲话,一字千钧,发人深省。
ta de jianghua yi zi qian jun fa ren shenxing
His speech was thoughtful and meaningful, every word carried weight.