Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== qiān zhēn wàn què: 千真万确 - Absolutely True, Genuinely a Fact ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** qianzhenwanque, 千真万确, Chinese idiom for true, absolutely true in Chinese, how to use qianzhenwanque, Chinese chengyu for certainty, unquestionably true, beyond a doubt in Chinese, Chinese idiom meaning * **Summary:** Discover the meaning and usage of **千真万确 (qiān zhēn wàn què)**, a powerful Chinese idiom (Chengyu) that means "absolutely true" or "beyond a shadow of a doubt." This guide explains its cultural context, character breakdown, and provides numerous practical examples for beginner learners to master how to express unwavering certainty in Mandarin Chinese. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** qiān zhēn wàn què * **Part of Speech:** Idiom (Chengyu / 成语) * **HSK Level:** N/A (Considered an advanced but very common idiom) * **Concise Definition:** Something is absolutely true and completely certain; without a doubt. * **In a Nutshell:** "千真万确" is a highly emphatic way to state that something is a fact. It's not just saying "it's true"; it's like shouting "it's a thousand times true and ten thousand times certain!" This idiom is used to erase all doubt and convince the listener of the absolute reality of a statement, often with a sense of gravity or conviction. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **千 (qiān):** Thousand. In Chinese, large numbers like a thousand or ten thousand are often used to mean "many," "a great deal," or "completely." * **真 (zhēn):** True, real, genuine. This is the core of the idiom's meaning. * **万 (wàn):** Ten thousand. This further amplifies the sense of scale and completeness. * **确 (què):** Certain, sure, definite. This adds a layer of confirmation and certainty. The characters literally combine to mean "a thousand truths, ten thousand certainties." This poetic hyperbole creates an overwhelming image of undeniable fact. It's not just a single truth, but a mountain of truths and certainties piled on top of each other, making the statement unshakable. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **Emphasis on Veracity:** In Chinese culture, conveying information with confidence and clarity is highly valued. "千真万确" serves as a powerful tool to establish one's credibility and the truthfulness of a message. It's a verbal guarantee, signaling that the speaker is completely certain and takes full responsibility for the statement's accuracy. * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** An English speaker might say "it's a stone-cold fact," "gospel truth," or "beyond a shadow of a doubt." While the function is similar—to express absolute certainty—the Chinese approach is different. "千真万确" uses numerical hyperbole (`千` and `万`) to create its effect, a common rhetorical device in Chinese idioms (Chengyu). This contrasts with the English phrases, which often draw from legal ("beyond a doubt") or religious ("gospel truth") domains. The Chinese idiom feels more like an overwhelming consensus of reality rather than a single, proven point. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Formality:** "千真万确" can be used in both formal and informal settings, but its emphatic nature means it's reserved for situations where certainty needs to be strongly stressed. * **Formal Contexts:** You will often hear or read it in news reports, official announcements, or historical accounts to emphasize that the information being presented is verified and factual. For example, a spokesperson might use it to quell rumors. * **Informal Contexts:** In daily conversation, it's used to win an argument, share surprising news you've verified, or reassure a doubtful friend. It adds a dramatic flair and signals, "I'm not kidding, this is 100% real." * **Connotation:** It carries a strong, definitive, and neutral-to-positive connotation. It simply affirms a fact with great force. It is rarely used sarcastically. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这消息是**千真万确**的，电视台已经报道了。 * Pinyin: Zhè xiāoxi shì **qiān zhēn wàn què** de, diànshìtái yǐjīng bàodào le. * English: This news is **absolutely true**; the TV station has already reported it. * Analysis: Here, the speaker is citing an authoritative source (the TV station) to back up the claim, making "千真万确" very convincing. * **Example 2:** * 我亲眼看见他赢了比赛，这事**千真万确**！ * Pinyin: Wǒ qīnyǎn kànjiàn tā yíng le bǐsài, zhè shì **qiān zhēn wàn què**! * English: I saw him win the competition with my own eyes, this is **an undeniable fact**! * Analysis: The phrase "亲眼看见" (qīnyǎn kànjiàn - to see with one's own eyes) is often paired with "千真万确" to emphasize firsthand experience as proof. * **Example 3:** * A: 你确定这是老板的原话吗？ B: **千真万确**，我一个字都没改。 * Pinyin: A: Nǐ quèdìng zhè shì lǎobǎn de yuánhuà ma? B: **Qiān zhēn wàn què**, wǒ yí ge zì dōu méi gǎi. * English: A: Are you sure these are the boss's exact words? B: **Absolutely certain**, I didn't change a single word. * Analysis: Here, "千真万确" is used as a standalone response to strongly affirm something and dispel doubt. * **Example 4:** * 历史书上写得清清楚楚，那场战役的结局是**千真万确**的。 * Pinyin: Lìshǐ shū shàng xiě de qīngqīngchǔchǔ, nà chǎng zhànyì de jiéjú shì **qiān zhēn wàn què** de. * English: It's written clearly in the history books; the outcome of that battle is **an established fact**. * Analysis: This example shows its use in a more formal, academic context to refer to well-documented historical facts. * **Example 5:** * 尽管这个发现听起来很不可思议，但科学数据证明它是**千真万确**的。 * Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn zhège fāxiàn tīngqǐlái hěn bùkěsīyì, dàn kēxué shùjù zhèngmíng tā shì **qiān zhēn wàn què** de. * English: Although this discovery sounds incredible, the scientific data proves that it is **absolutely true**. * Analysis: This idiom is perfect for situations that seem unbelievable but are backed by solid evidence. * **Example 6:** * 他对你的感情是**千真万确**的，你就别再怀疑了。 * Pinyin: Tā duì nǐ de gǎnqíng shì **qiān zhēn wàn què** de, nǐ jiù bié zài huáiyí le. * English: His feelings for you are **completely genuine**, so don't doubt them anymore. * Analysis: The idiom can also be used to describe intangible things like feelings or intentions, emphasizing their sincerity. * **Example 7:** * 警方发布的公告证实了目击者的证词是**千真万确**的。 * Pinyin: Jǐngfāng fābù de gōnggào zhèngshí le mùjīzhě de zhèngcí shì **qiān zhēn wàn què** de. * English: The announcement released by the police confirmed that the witness's testimony was **entirely factual**. * Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a formal, official context related to law and order. * **Example 8:** * 我一开始也不信，但后来发现他说的话句句都是**千真万确**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ yī kāishǐ yě bù xìn, dàn hòulái fāxiàn tā shuō de huà jùjù dōu shì **qiān zhēn wàn què**. * English: I didn't believe it at first either, but later I discovered that every sentence he said was **the absolute truth**. * Analysis: The phrase "句句都是" (jùjù dōu shì - every sentence is) amplifies the scope of the truthfulness. * **Example 9:** * 这幅画是名家真迹，**千真万确**，价值连城。 * Pinyin: Zhè fú huà shì míngjiā zhēnjì, **qiān zhēn wàn què**, jiàzhíliánchéng. * English: This painting is an authentic work by a famous artist, **without a doubt**, and it's priceless. * Analysis: Used in the context of authenticating a valuable item, "千真万确" adds a strong sense of authority and finality. * **Example 10:** * 地球是圆的，这是一个**千真万确**的科学事实。 * Pinyin: Dìqiú shì yuán de, zhè shì yí ge **qiān zhēn wàn què** de kēxué shìshí. * English: The Earth is round; this is an **indisputable** scientific fact. * Analysis: Perfect for describing fundamental, universally accepted truths. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Don't Overuse It for Trivial Facts:** Using "千真万确" to say "The sun rises in the east" would sound overly dramatic and a bit strange. Its power lies in its ability to confirm information that might be surprising, doubted, or particularly important. * **False Friend: "真的" (zhēn de):** A beginner might confuse "千真万确" with "真的" (zhēn de), which means "really" or "true." * **真的 (zhēn de):** Used for simple confirmation. "这个消息是真的吗？" (Is this news true?) * **千真万确 (qiān zhēn wàn què):** Used for emphatic, undeniable confirmation. It answers the question with overwhelming force. It's the difference between "It's true" and "It is 100%, absolutely, undeniably true." * **Incorrect Usage Example:** * **Incorrect:** 我觉得他明天可能会来，这件事是**千真万确**的。 (Wǒ juéde tā míngtiān kěnéng huì lái, zhè jiàn shì shì **qiān zhēn wàn què** de.) * **Why it's wrong:** The sentence starts with "I think he might come" (我觉得...可能), which expresses uncertainty. This directly contradicts the absolute certainty of "千真万确". You cannot be "absolutely certain" about a "maybe." * **Correct:** 他亲口告诉我他明天会来，这件事是**千真万确**的。 (He personally told me he will come tomorrow, this is **absolutely true**.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[确实]] (quèshí):** Indeed; really. A common adverb used to confirm something that was just mentioned, but much less emphatic. * **[[的确]] (díquè):** Indeed. Very similar to 确实, used to agree with a statement or confirm a fact. * **[[毫无疑问]] (háo wú yí wèn):** Without a doubt. A more literal and slightly less poetic synonym for "千真万确". * **[[板上钉钉]] (bǎn shàng dìng dīng):** "A nail on the board." A chengyu meaning a matter is settled, fixed, and cannot be changed. It focuses on the finality of a decision, while "千真万确" focuses on the truth of a fact. * **[[毋庸置疑]] (wú yōng zhì yí):** No room for doubt. A very formal, written idiom with a similar meaning. Often found in official documents or academic texts. * **[[真的]] (zhēn de):** Really; true. The most basic and common way to express truth or ask about it. * **[[假的]] (jiǎ de):** Fake; false. The direct antonym of "真的". * **[[半信半疑]] (bàn xìn bàn yí):** Half-believing, half-doubting. An antonym describing a state of uncertainty or skepticism.