铿锵有力 (kēng qiāng yǒu lì) — (idiom) firm and powerful (of speech or writing); resounding and forceful

Definition

A four-character idiom describing speech or writing that sounds firm, clear, and forceful. Often used for speeches, declarations, or styles of expression that carry strong conviction.

idiom
firm and powerful (of speech or writing)resounding and forceful

Examples

  • 铿锵有力，。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng kēng qiāng yǒu lì, yíng dé le quán chǎng zhǎng shēng.
    His speech was firm and powerful, winning applause from the entire audience.
  • 铿锵有力，。
    Zhè piān xuān yán xiě dé kēng qiāng yǒu lì, lìng rén zhèn fèn.
    This manifesto is written with resounding force — it's inspiring.
  • 铿锵有力，。
    Tā huí dá wèn tí shí yǔ qì kēng qiāng yǒu lì, háo bù hán hu.
    When he answered the question, his tone was firm and powerful, without any ambiguity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

铿锵resounding
铿kēngclang锵qiāngclang
联合Side by side
有力forceful
有yǒuhave力lìstrength
动宾Verb + object

铿锵 suggests a ringing sound, while 有力 adds the idea of strength.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 铿 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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