諺語 · a single proverb
一字千金
What does 一字千金 (yī zì qiān jīn) mean?
一字千金 (yī zì qiān jīn) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "one character worth a thousand gold." In use it means: Every word is precious; writing of supreme value. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "one character worth a thousand gold."
The reading
The right word at the right moment is not decoration but architecture-it holds the whole thought upright. One phrase placed exactly can outweigh a season of noise. Write less; mean more.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Shi Ji 史記·呂不韋列傳 (Lǚ Bùwéi biography)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 一字千金 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 一字千金 (yī zì qiān jīn) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Shi Ji 史記·呂不韋列傳 (Lǚ Bùwéi biography). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 一字千金?
In Mandarin it is yī zì qiān jīn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 一字千金 aloud in Mandarin.