一口咬定 (yī kǒu yǎo dìng) — to assert firmly; to insist stubbornly (on a claim)

Definition

A set phrase meaning to insist stubbornly on a claim, often without evidence or against the facts. Note the pattern: 一口 here is NOT a measure word for mouth — it intensifies 咬定 ('bite down on, cling to').

verb
to assert firmlyto insist stubbornly (on a claim)

Examples

  • 一口咬定，。
    Tā yī kǒu yǎo dìng zì jǐ méi tōu dōng xi, dàn jiān kòng pāi dào le.
    He insisted he didn't steal anything, but the surveillance camera caught him.
  • ，一口咬定。
    Bù guǎn zěn me wèn, tā dōu yī kǒu yǎo dìng nà tiān bú zài jiā.
    No matter how they asked, she stuck to her story that she wasn't home that day.
  • 一口咬定，。
    Tā yī kǒu yǎo dìng zì jǐ shì duì de, bú yuàn tīng bié rén de yì jiàn.
    He stubbornly insisted he was right and refused to listen to others' opinions.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo咬yǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

咬 is built from 口, meaning mouth, and 交, which gives the sound.

Open 咬 →

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →

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