📖 Meaning
Well-founded and substantiated; having solid evidence or a reliable basis for one's claims. The idiom emphasizes that a statement or assertion is not made casually but is backed by verifiable facts or a credible source.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the contemporary Chinese writer Hao Ran's (浩然) short story 'Shi Shan Bai' (《石山柏》), written in the mid-20th century. In the story, the narrator recounts how a character, to prove the truthfulness of his words, proceeds to trace through Shi Shan Bai's personal history as evidence. The phrase '有根有底' is used to describe speech that is grounded in fact and traceable to a reliable source. It is a modern chengyu rather than a classical one, emerging from vernacular literature rather than ancient texts.
💡 Example Usage
他说的每句话都有根有底，让人不得不信服。
Everything he said was well-founded and substantiated, leaving people with no choice but to be convinced.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 有根有底
- Pinyin: yǒu gēn yǒu dǐ
- Literal Translation: have root, have foundation
- Category: Logic
- Characters: 4