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斩钉截铁 (zhǎn dīng jié tiě) — resolute and decisive; categorical; unhesitating

Definition

A chengyu describing someone's manner or words as firm and unhesitating, like cutting iron. Unlike 不折不扣, which stresses authenticity or strict adherence, 斩钉截铁 describes decisive resolve.

phrase
resolute and decisivecategoricalunhesitating

Examples

  • 斩钉截铁：“。”
    Tā zhǎn dīng jié tiě dì shuō: "zhè jiàn shì méi yǒu rèn hé shāng liang de yú dì."
    He said categorically, "There is no room for negotiation on this matter."
  • ，斩钉截铁。
    Duì yuán zé wèn tí, wǒ men bì xū zhǎn dīng jié tiě dì biǎo míng lì chǎng.
    On matters of principle, we must state our position unhesitatingly.
  • 斩钉截铁。
    Tā zhǎn dīng jié tiě dì jù jué le suǒ yǒu bù hé lǐ de yāo qiú.
    She resolutely rejected all unreasonable demands.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

斩钉chop the nail
斩zhǎnchop钉dīngnail
动宾Verb + object
截铁cut the iron
截jiécut铁tiěiron
动宾Verb + object

斩钉 and 截铁 show chopping nails and cutting iron, giving a resolute, decisive sense.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斬; 斩 is its simplified writing.

  • 斤斤jīnaxe
  • 車車jūcart; vehicle

The traditional form 斬 combines 斤 (axe) and 車 (cart) to show an old punishment where carts tore apart a body, giving the sense 'to cut'; the simplified 斩 is only a shorthand.

Open 斩 →

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 釘; 钉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng釘dīng
Same sound today

The traditional 釘 pairs 金 (metal) with 丁 for sound; some theorize 丁 originally meant “nail,” so 釘 was created to write that word with metal added. The simplified 钉 is a shorthand.

Open 钉 →

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
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
雀
雀què截jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

截 combines 戈 and 雀, with 雀 supplying the sound.

Open 截 →

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 鐵; 铁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢧤
𢧤𢧤鐵tiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鐵 pairs 金 (metal) with 𢧤 as a sound part; the simplified 铁 is a later shorthand.

Open 铁 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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