📖 Meaning
Only when the coffin lid is nailed shut can a final judgment be made. It means that a person's true worth or legacy can only be assessed after their death, when their entire life is complete.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Han Yu, titled 'Tongguan Gorge' (同冠峡). In the poem, Han Yu writes that one should not rush to judgment, for matters are only truly settled when the coffin is closed. The saying reflects the traditional view that a person's life and character cannot be fully evaluated until they have lived it to the end.
💡 Example Usage
一个人的功过是非，往往要等到盖棺论定时才能说清楚。
A person's merits and faults often cannot be clearly assessed until the coffin is closed and a final judgment is made.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 盖棺论定
- Pinyin: gài guān lùn dìng
- Literal Translation: cover, coffin, conclude, settle
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4