Chinese idiom · 成语
一字千金
Meaning
One word worth a thousand gold; highly valued writing.
Character by character
Origin and story
historical accountThe Shiji says that Lü Buwei gathered the learning of his retainers into the Lüshi Chunqiu, then displayed the completed work at the market gate in Xianyang. A lavish reward was offered to visiting scholars who could improve it by adding or removing even one character. The account describes a public challenge, not a record of editors actually receiving payment. The later idiom turned that valuation into praise for exceptionally fine writing. Zhong Rong's Shipin already uses the expression to commend poems whose language and emotional force seem beyond price. The gold is usually figurative, not a literal fee per character.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
这封短短的感谢信真挚动人，在收信人心里可谓一字千金。
This short thank-you letter is so heartfelt that every word is priceless to its recipient.
Praises the exceptional value or precision of words; usually an appreciative exaggeration.