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成一家之言

chéng yī jiā zhī yán
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 to form an original school of thought
  2. 2 to make one's own distinctive contribution
  3. 3 to complete the words of one school (literally)

Examples

HSK 7-9
他钻研多年，终于成一家之言，在学界自成流派。
Tā zuānyán duōnián, zhōngyú chéngyījiāzhīyán, zài xuéjiè zì chéng liúpài.
After years of deep study he at last established his own school of thought, founding a distinct current in academia.
HSK 7-9
她的评论独到，自成一家之言。
Tā de pínglùn dúdào, zì chéngyījiāzhīyán.
Her criticism is original - very much a voice of its own.

Tips

history
From Sima Qian's (司马迁) letter to Ren An 《报任安书》, explaining why he endured castration to finish the 《史记》: 究天人之际，通古今之变，成一家之言。 (To investigate the boundary of heaven and man, to connect the changes of past and present, and to form the words of one school.) A foundational statement of the Chinese scholar-historian's mission.
usage
一家 here means 'one school/school of thought,' not 'one family.' Often used today in academic prefaces, book reviews, and criticism to praise (or aspire to) a distinctive intellectual voice.

Stroke Order

成 chéng
一 yī
家 jiā
之 zhī
言 yán