📖 Meaning
Words and writing that possess literary refinement and elegance can spread far and wide, enduring through time to influence later generations. The idiom emphasizes that polished, well-crafted expression is essential for lasting impact.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Ming dynasty scholar Zhang Pu's preface to the "Renshen Wenxuan" (壬申文选), where he wrote that refined words that travel far are something the nation relies upon. It is derived from an earlier classical saying recorded in the Zuo Zhuan (左传), "言而无文，行之不远" — "words without literary refinement cannot travel far." Zhang Pu, a prominent late Ming literary figure and founder of the Fushe (复社) society, invoked this principle to stress the importance of elegant writing in governance and culture.
💡 Example Usage
他的文章真正做到了言文行远，流传至今。
His writings truly achieved the ideal of refined words traveling far, and they continue to be passed down to this day.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 言文行远
- Pinyin: yán wén xíng yuǎn
- Literal Translation: words, refined, travel, far
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4