📖 Meaning
Verbal statements alone are not sufficient evidence. It means that spoken words cannot be trusted as proof without written or tangible documentation. The idiom is often used to emphasize the need for concrete evidence or written agreements.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty play 'Yangzhou Dream' (《扬州梦》) by Qiao Mengfu (乔梦符). In the fourth act, a character accuses another of deception and manipulation, then declares that mere verbal claims between them are unreliable as proof. The phrase highlights the traditional Chinese value of written contracts and tangible evidence over verbal promises.
💡 Example Usage
口说无凭，我们还是签一份书面协议吧。
Verbal promises are not enough; let's sign a written agreement.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 口说无凭
- Pinyin: kǒu shuō wú píng
- Literal Translation: mouth, say, no, proof
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4