📖 Meaning
Profound and unmistakably clear. It describes a statement, argument, or principle that is expressed in a deeply penetrating yet lucid manner, leaving no room for ambiguity. The idiom emphasizes both depth of insight and clarity of presentation.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from Sima Qian's 'Records of the Grand Historian' (《史记》), in the 'Preface by the Grand Historian' (《太史公自序》). Confucius is quoted as saying, 'I wished to record empty words, but it is better to see deeds that are profound and evident' (深切著明). Sima Qian invoked this phrase to justify his historical method — letting events and actions speak more powerfully than abstract commentary. The idiom was later used by Qing dynasty scholar Wang Fuzhi (王夫之) in his work 'Shang Shu Yin Yi' (《尚书引义》).
💡 Example Usage
他的文章深切著明，读后令人印象深刻。
His article is profound and unmistakably clear, leaving a deep impression after reading.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 深切著明
- Pinyin: shēn qiè zhù míng
- Literal Translation: deep, incisive, manifest, clear
- Category: Clarity
- Characters: 4