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举足轻重 (jǔ zú qīng zhòng) — (idiom) to play a decisive role; to hold the balance; to be of critical importance

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'one's move can tip the scales' — used for a person or factor whose influence is decisive. 至关重要 is a more general 'of vital importance'; 举足轻重 specifically stresses that one action shifts the outcome.

idiom
to play a decisive roleto hold the balanceto be of critical importance

Examples

  • 举足轻重，。
    Zhè wèi jiào shòu zài guó jì xué shù jiè jǔ zú qīng zhòng, tā de guān diǎn wǎng wǎng néng gǎi biàn yán jiū fāng xiàng.
    This professor holds a decisive role in the international academic community; his opinions often change research directions.
  • ，举足轻重，。
    Zài zhè ge tán pàn zhōng, zhōng fāng de tài dù jǔ zú qīng zhòng, zhí jiē jué dìng xié yì néng fǒu dá chéng.
    In this negotiation, the Chinese side's attitude is of critical importance, directly determining whether the agreement can be reached.
  • ，举足轻重。
    Tā suī rán zhí wèi bù gāo, dàn zài xiàng mù jué cè shàng què shì jǔ zú qīng zhòng de rén wù.
    Although his position is not high, he is a pivotal figure in project decision-making.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

举足lift foot
举jǔlift足zúfoot
动宾Verb + object
轻重light and heavy
轻qīnglight重zhòngheavy
联合Coordinate

举足 (lifting a foot) and 轻重 (light and heavy) picture how one step can tip the balance, making someone influential.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
與
與yǔ舉jǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

Open 举 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Open 足 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsIdioms & Set Phrases

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