一言九鼎 yī yán jiǔ dǐng One word weighs as much as nine cauldrons

Explanation

九鼎：古代国家的宝器，相传为夏禹所铸。一句话抵得上九鼎重。比喻说话力量大，能起很大作用。

Nine cauldrons: ancient state treasures, said to be cast by Xia Yu. One word weighs as much as nine cauldrons. It means that someone speaks with great power and can have a big impact.

Origin Story

战国时期，赵国和秦国交战，赵国首都邯郸被秦国军队包围。赵王派平原君出使楚国求援，楚王却犹豫不决。平原君的食客毛遂主动请缨，他手持宝剑上殿，对楚王分析了当前的形势，并且阐明了救助赵国的利弊，最终打动了楚王，楚王决定派兵支援赵国。事后，平原君称赞毛遂说：“毛先生一到楚国，就让赵国变得更加重要，如同九鼎大吕一样。毛先生三寸不烂之舌，比百万雄师还要强大。”这件事说明了毛遂的智慧和才干，更说明了说话的力量，有时可以改变一个国家甚至一个人的命运。

zhàn guó shí qī, zhào guó hé qín guó jiāo zhàn, zhào guó shǒu dū hán dàn bèi qín guó jūn duì bāo wéi. zhào wáng pài píng yuán jūn chū shǐ chǔ guó qiú yuán, chǔ wáng què yóu yù bù jué. píng yuán jūn de shí kè máo suì zhǔ dòng qǐng yīng, tā shǒu chí bǎo jiàn shàng diàn, duì chǔ wáng fēn xī le dāng qián de xíng shì, bìng qiě chǎn míng le jiù zhù zhào guó de lì bì, zuì zhōng dǎ dòng le chǔ wáng, chǔ wáng jué dìng pài bīng zhī yuán zhào guó. shì hòu, píng yuán jūn chēng zàn máo suì shuō: "máo xiān sheng yī dào chǔ guó, jiù ràng zhào guó biàn de gèng jiā zhòng yào, rú tóng jiǔ dǐng dà lǚ yī yàng. máo xiān sheng sān cùn bù làn zhī shé, bǐ bǎi wàn xióng shī hái yào qiáng dà." zhè jiàn shì qíng shuō míng le máo suì de zhì huì hé cái gàn, gèng shuō míng le shuō huà de lì liàng, yǒu shí kě yǐ gǎi biàn yī gè guó jiā shèn zhì yī gè rén de mìng yùn.

During the Warring States period, Zhao and Qin were at war, and the capital of Zhao, Handan, was besieged by the Qin army. The King of Zhao sent Pingyuan Jun to Chu to seek help, but the King of Chu hesitated. Mao Sui, a guest of Pingyuan Jun, volunteered, he entered the court with a sword in hand and analyzed the current situation before the King of Chu. He explained the pros and cons of helping Zhao, which ultimately moved the King of Chu, who decided to send troops to support Zhao. Afterwards, Pingyuan Jun praised Mao Sui, saying: "When Mr. Mao arrived in Chu, he made Zhao more important, like nine cauldrons of great size. The three inches of Mr. Mao's tongue are stronger than a million troops." This story shows the wisdom and ability of Mao Sui, but more importantly, the power of speech, which can sometimes change the fate of a country or a person.

Usage

这个成语通常用来形容一个人说话很有分量，所说的话很有影响力，能起到很大的作用。

zhè gè chéng yǔ tóng cháng yòng lái xíng róng yī gè rén shuō huà hěn yǒu fèn liàng, suǒ shuō de huà hěn yǒu yǐng xiǎng lì, néng qǐ dào hěn dà de zuò yòng.

This idiom is often used to describe someone who speaks with great weight and influence, and whose words can have a significant impact.

Examples

• 他说话很有分量，一言九鼎，大家都信服他。

  tā shuō huà hěn yǒu fèn liàng, yī yán jiǔ dǐng, dà jiā xìn fú tā.

  He is a man of great weight, his word is as good as gold.

• 这可是我们双方约定的，一言九鼎，绝不能反悔。

  zhè kě shì wǒ men shuāng fāng yuē dìng de, yī yán jiǔ dǐng, jué bú néng fǎn huǐ.

  This is our agreement, it is binding, we cannot go back on our word.

• 他虽是新来的，但却一言九鼎，深得大家信任。

  tā suī shì xīn lái de, dàn què yī yán jiǔ dǐng, shēn dé dà jiā xìn rèn.

  He is new, but his word is his bond, he has the trust of everyone.

Related Idioms

• 一字千钧

• 一言为定

• 金口玉言

Opposite Idioms

• 人微言轻