一言九鼎

yīyánjiǔdǐng

idiom #50,906

Meanings

1 one word worth nine sacred tripods
2 a word of enormous weight
3 a promise as heavy as gold

Characters

tripod / cauldron

Examples

老板一言九鼎，说给就一定给。

Lǎobǎn yī yán jiǔ dǐng, shuō gěi jiù yídìng gěi.

The boss's word is gold — if he says he'll pay, he pays.

他一言九鼎，从不食言。

Tā yī yán jiǔ dǐng, cóng bù shíyán.

His word carries enormous weight — he never goes back on it.

Tips

history

From 《史记·平原君列传》: Zhao retainer Mao Sui persuades the king of Chu to send troops, after which Lord Pingyuan says Mao Sui's tongue 'is mightier than a million soldiers' and his single visit to Chu made Zhao 'heavier than the nine tripods' (九鼎 were the sacred bronze vessels symbolizing dynastic legitimacy).

Stroke Order

一 yī

言 yán

九 jiǔ

鼎 dǐng