📖 Meaning
Originally referring to the words of an emperor, which were considered sacred and irrevocable. It now broadly describes words that are spoken with authority and cannot be changed. It is synonymous with the idiom '金口玉音' (golden mouth, jade voice).
📜 Origin Story
This idiom stems from the traditional Chinese reverence for imperial authority, where the emperor's spoken words were treated as sacred decrees that could never be retracted. The term '金口' (golden mouth) metaphorically elevates speech to a precious and untouchable status, while '御言' (imperial words) directly associates it with the sovereign. The expression reflects the belief that once the emperor spoke, his words became law. No specific literary source is documented for this phrase, though it belongs to a family of similar expressions like '金口玉音' and '金口玉言' that circulated in vernacular literature and popular usage.
💡 Example Usage
皇帝金口御言，既已下旨，便不可收回。
The emperor's words were irrevocable; once the decree was issued, it could not be taken back.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 金口御言
- Pinyin: jīn kǒu yù yán
- Literal Translation: gold, mouth, imperial, word
- Category: Power
- Characters: 4