📖 Meaning
Literally 'every mouth is a stele.' A stele (碑) is a monument inscribed to record merits or achievements. This idiom means that everyone's praise serves as a living monument of commendation, indicating universal acclaim and admiration from all people.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom traces back to a line in the Song Dynasty text Wudeng Huiyuan (五灯会元), compiled by the monk Puji in the 13th century. The original phrase goes: 'I advise you not to carve the stubborn stone; travelers on the road have mouths like steles.' It conveyed the idea that true merit need not be carved in stone, as people's words of praise would naturally preserve and spread it. Over time, the expression evolved into the four-character idiom 有口皆碑, emphasizing that public praise is the most authentic form of commemoration.
💡 Example Usage
这位老医生医术精湛、医德高尚，在当地百姓中有口皆碑。
This veteran doctor's superb skill and noble medical ethics are universally praised by the local people.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 有口皆碑
- Pinyin: yǒu kǒu jiē bēi
- Literal Translation: have, mouth, all, stele
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4