Chinese idiom · 成语
一言九鼎
Meaning
Words as weighty as nine ritual tripods; a statement or promise carrying great authority.
Character by character
Origin and story
historical accountThe Shiji recounts Mao Sui's decisive intervention when Lord Pingyuan sought Chu's help for Zhao against Qin. After negotiations stalled, Mao advanced with his hand on his sword and argued that resisting Qin served Chu's own interests. The king agreed to an alliance. Back in Zhao, Lord Pingyuan admitted that he had underestimated Mao, praising his speech as more effective than a vast army and saying he had made Zhao weightier than treasured ritual vessels. The idiom condenses that praise of persuasive importance. It can describe a promise carrying great authority, but its original emphasis is the power of words to affect events.
In everyday life
她在团队里一言九鼎，大家都很重视她对方案的意见。
Her words carry enormous weight in the team, and everyone takes her views on the proposal seriously.
Emphasizes the authority or influence of someone's words, not only the keeping of promises.