Chinese idiom · 成语
一鸣惊人
Meaning
One cry amazes all; to achieve sudden, stunning success.
Character by character
Origin and story
Traditional political anecdoteHan Feizi (韓非子), Yu Lao (喻老), tells of King Zhuang of Chu issuing no effective government for three years. An official challenges him with a riddle about a bird that neither flies nor calls. The king replies that its quiet period prepares its wings and understanding: when it finally flies it will rise high, and when it calls it will astonish people.
The account says that he later took government in hand and changed personnel and policies. Related versions occur in other ancient texts; Shiji uses the exact idiom in its Chunyu Kun biography. The image describes an unexpected display of ability after obscurity, not a prince literally uttering his first words.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
一直默默训练的新人，在决赛中一鸣惊人，拿下了冠军。
The newcomer who had trained quietly stunned everyone by winning the final.
Requires a contrast between previous obscurity and a striking achievement.