字斟句酌 (zì zhēn jù zhuó) — to weigh every word; to choose one's words with great care

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning 'to weigh every word carefully' — used for writing or speaking with deliberate precision. Implies painstaking, meticulous phrasing rather than quick or casual expression.

idiom
to weigh every wordto choose one's words with great care

Examples

  • 字斟句酌，。
    Tā zài yǎn jiǎng qián zì zhēn jù zhuó, què bǎo měi yí gè cí dōu zhǔn què wú wù.
    Before the speech, he weighed every word to ensure each term was accurate and error-free.
  • 字斟句酌，。
    Zhè piān bào gào shì jīng guò zì zhēn jù zhuó xiě chū lái de, luó ji fēi cháng yán mì.
    This report was written with great care in choosing every word; its logic is very tight.
  • 字斟句酌，。
    Tā shuō huà zǒng shì zì zhēn jù zhuó, cóng bù qīng yì biǎo tài.
    She always chooses her words carefully and never takes a stand lightly.

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.

字斟words weighed
字zìword斟zhēnweigh
主谓Subject + predicate
句酌sentences weighed
句jùsentence酌zhuóchoose
主谓Subject + predicate

字斟 and 句酌 parallel the weighing of words and sentences, expressing careful wording.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

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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
斗斗dòudipper; cup
Sound part声符shēngfú
甚
甚shèn斟zhēn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斟 combines 斗, a dipper or cup for pouring, with 甚, which gives the sound.

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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
丩丩jiūto entangle
Sound part声符shēngfú
口
口kǒu句jù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

句 pairs 丩, originally two entangled ropes and giving a sense of entangling, with 口 as the sound part.

Open 句 →

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
酉酉yǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo酌zhuó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

酌 is built from 酉 and 勺, where 酉 relates to its meaning and 勺 supplies the sound.

Open 酌 →

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