--- title: "ChengYu: 一字千金 Meaning" description: "The meaning of the Chinese idiom, \"一字千金\" means \"one word is worth a thousand in gold!\" It's used to describe well written poems or composition." --- [![chinese new logo-1](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/hubfs/chinese%20new%20logo-1.jpg)](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-culture?hsLang=en) - Culture and Lifestyle - [Chinese Culture](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-culture?hsLang=en) - [Chinese Fun Facts](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-fun-facts?hsLang=en) - Chinese Proficiency Exams - [HSK](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/hsk-exam?hsLang=en) - TOCFL - [AP Chinese](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/ap-chinese-exam-preparation?hsLang=en) - Chinese Learning - [Learning Tips](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-learning-tips) - [Chinese for Kids](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-for-kids?hsLang=en) - [Chinese for Business](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-for-business?hsLang=en) # ChengYu: 一字千金 Meaning The meaning of the Chinese idiom, "一字千金" means "one word is worth a thousand in gold!" It's used to describe well written poems or composition. [Ru-Ping Chen](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-learning-tips/author/ru-ping-chen) Jul 25, 2015 --- ### THE IDIOM Traditional:一字千金 Simplified: 一字千金 Pinyin: yī zì qiān jīn ### EXPLANATION The idiom, 一字千金, directly translates to “one word is worth a thousand in gold.” This idiom describes the importance every single word imparts to a writing piece or poem. A tip from our [Chinese tutors](https://www.tutorming.com/chinese-tutors): Many people think this idiom bears the same meaning as “一言九鼎" (yī yán jiǔ dǐng), however that means “keep your word.” Be careful not to mix them up! **一字:** one word **千金:** a thousand in gold ### THE BACKSTORY In the Warring States Period (approx. 475 BC), a man named Lu BuWei (吕不韦 lǚ bù wéi) rose to prominence. He was already an important figure in the political sphere because he had helped a lord (秦庄襄王; qín zhuāng xiāng wáng) gain power. They had a pretty close relationship, as Lu BuWei was willing to give Zhao Ji (赵姬 zhào jī), one of his wives (or dancers, history isn’t sure) to the lord to show his loyalty. Later on, the lord became the ruling entity of the Qin state, promoted Lu BuWei to a higher position, and after three years, died. His son, the famed Qin Shi Huang秦始皇 (qín shǐ huáng), also known as the first emperor of China, took over and increased Lu BuWei’s rank even more. Why? Qin ShiHuang’s mother was Zhao Ji. Hence, promotion. This sounds very boring, I know, but I’m trying to generate an understanding of Lu BuWei’s prestige. So in those days, affluent individuals enjoyed having intellectuals in their home, be it soldiers, military counselors or advisors. Lu BuWei was an official to the rulers of his state. These people, termed 养士 (yǎng shì), acted as officials to the officials. Lu BuWei kept these people around him because he wanted to stabilize his political power.*Stabilize*, not increase. So every time Lu BuWei needed help, they would provide their advice in writing. Over the years, Lu BuWei compiled these writings into a book (吕氏春秋; lǚ shì chūn qiū) and termed it “the book on unifying China.” It should be noted that during this period, China was still split up into many different states. So Lu BuWei wants to make bank and goes to the capital and starts advertising said book. He tells the residents, **“If anyone manages to add or delete a word without devaluing the book, I will give them a thousand in gold.”** Later on, people turned his words into an idiom to describe incredibly well-written compositions or the rhetoric evident within a piece. Typically, it is used to describe the effectiveness of short compositions that impart incredible depth. ### HOW TO USE “一字千金” IN A SENTENCE 1. 这篇文章真是一字千金，批评历史上的事件，真是太好看了。 **Translation:** This essay describing various historical events is incredibly well-written. 2. 这哪里是一字千金，连小学生写的文章都不如。 **Translation:** How is this essay well written? It is worse than compositions written by elementary school students. 3. 3. 这篇文章虽然短了些，真是一字千金，不可增加一个字。 **Translation:** Even though this essay is short, adding extra words would devalue its worth. ### ABOUT TUTORABC Chinese *Founded in 2004, TutorABC Global, the parent company of TutorABC Chinese, created the first commercially available synchronous learning portal in the world. TutorABC Global offers [world class Chinese tutors](https://www.tutorabcchinese.com/site/teachers) at TutorABC Chinese. For English learning, it offers TutorABC, and tutorJr.*   ## Similar posts ### [ChengYu: 一丘之貉 Meaning](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-learning-tips/yi-qiu-zhi-he-chengyu-chinese-idiom?hsLang=en) The meaning of the Chinese idiom, "一丘之貉" is literally "raccoons of the same hill." This chengyu has a similar meaning to "birds of a feather flock... Ru-Ping Chen Jul 16, 2015 ### [ChengYu: 一事无成 Meaning](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-learning-tips/yi-shi-wu-cheng-chengyu-chinese-idiom?hsLang=en) The meaning of the Chinese idiom, "一事无成" is used to describe failures. For example, someone who has been at the same job for years and has no... Ru-Ping Chen Aug 1, 2015 ### [ChengYu: 二分明月 Meaning](https://blog.tutorabcchinese.com/chinese-learning-tips/chengyu-er-fen-ming-yue-idiom-meaning?hsLang=en) Check out what the Chinese idiom "二分明月" means and how to use it in a sentence. Loosely translated, it means "two parts of a bright moons" It is used... 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