📖 Meaning
Words must be backed by evidence. It describes someone who speaks only with a factual basis and never makes unfounded claims. The idiom emphasizes rigor, responsibility, and reliability in speech.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from Lu Xun's preface to his own work, where he discussed the writing of historical fiction. He argued that novels which thoroughly examine literary sources and ensure every statement has a basis—though some mockingly label them 'professor novels'—are in fact extremely difficult to compose. Lu Xun (1881–1936), a leading figure of modern Chinese literature, used the phrase to defend the scholarly rigor required in historical storytelling. The expression has since become a general principle advocating evidence-based speech.
💡 Example Usage
他在会议上言必有据，每个观点都引用了详实的数据。
At the meeting he spoke only with evidence, backing every point with detailed data.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 言必有据
- Pinyin: yán bì yǒu jù
- Literal Translation: speak, must, have, basis
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4