十拿九稳 (shí ná jiǔ wěn) — practically certain; almost sure of success

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'practically certain of success' — the outcome is so likely it feels like a sure thing. Stronger and more idiomatic than simply saying 一定能 or 肯定.

idiom
practically certainalmost sure of success

Examples

  • ，十拿九稳。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài, shí ná jiǔ wěn néng yíng.
    He's practically certain to win this competition.
  • ，十拿九稳。
    Bié dān xīn, zhè jiàn shì shí ná jiǔ wěn de.
    Don't worry, this matter is practically certain.
  • ，十拿九稳。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi le hěn jiǔ, shí ná jiǔ wěn kě yǐ kǎo shàng dà xué.
    I've prepared for a long time, so I'm almost sure to get into university.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The early shape 十 was mostly a single vertical stroke, sometimes with a dot, and later gained a horizontal stroke to form a cross. For the number ten, it marked the next digit above one.

Open 十 →

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

The shape 拿 pairs 合 with 手, and it is a later alternative form for taking with the hand.

Open 拿 →

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

The shape comes from a stylized hand bent at the wrist, with the lower-right hook showing the bend. Later, it was taken to show a tightened fist bumping up to ten, giving the number nine.

Open 九 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 稳 →

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