📖 Meaning
To have both roots and a source; to be well-founded and traceable to its origins. It describes something that is thoroughly grounded with clear evidence and provenance, leaving no room for doubt.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom appears in the eighteenth chapter of the Qing dynasty novel 'Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan' (Tales of Heroic Sons and Daughters) by Wenkang. In the scene, the character Shisanmei (Thirteenth Sister) listens to an account that is presented so thoroughly, with clear origins and solid evidence, that she has no choice but to believe it. The phrase emphasizes that a claim or story backed by traceable roots and verifiable sources is inherently convincing.
💡 Example Usage
他讲起这件事来有本有源，让人不得不信。
He recounted the matter with clear roots and sources, making it impossible not to believe him.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 有本有源
- Pinyin: yǒu běn yǒu yuán
- Literal Translation: have, root, have, source
- Category: Clarity
- Characters: 4