TongTong
Sign in

板上钉钉 (bǎn shàng dīng dīng) — (chengyu) that clinches it; that's final; irrefutable and settled

Definition

A chengyu meaning something is settled and unchangeable — like a nail driven into a board. Used when a decision or fact is final and no longer open to debate.

idiom
(chengyu) that clinches itthat's finalirrefutable and settled

Examples

  • ，板上钉钉。
    Wǒ men tǎo lùn le hěn jiǔ, xiàn zài bǎn shàng dīng dīng le.
    We discussed for a long time, and now it's final.
  • ，板上钉钉。
    Hé tong yì qiān, zhè shì r jiù bǎn shàng dīng dīng le.
    Once the contract is signed, this matter is set in stone.
  • ，板上钉钉。
    Shì shí bǎi zài yǎn qián, bǎn shàng dīng dīng le.
    The facts are right in front of us — that clinches it.

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.

板上on a board
板bǎnboard上shàngon
偏正Modifier + head
钉钉nail a nail
钉dīngto nail钉dīngnail
动宾Verb + object

板 (board) 上 (on) and 钉 (to nail) 钉 (nail) picture a nail fixed on a board, so the matter is settled.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
反
反fǎn板bǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

板 pairs 木 (tree) with 反 as a sound part.

Open 板 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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.

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 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.