白纸黑字 (bái zhǐ hēi zì) — in black and white; written proof that is clear and undeniable

Definition

A set idiom meaning 'in black and white' — used when something is clearly written down as undeniable proof, as in a contract or agreement. Emphasizes that the evidence is on paper and impossible to dispute.

idiom
in black and whitewritten proof that is clear and undeniable

Examples

  • 白纸黑字，。
    Hé tong shàng bái zhǐ hēi zì xiě dé qīng qīng chǔ chǔ, nǐ bù néng fǎn huǐ.
    It's written in black and white in the contract — you can't back out.
  • 白纸黑字，？
    bái zhǐ hēi zì Bǎi zài nà lǐ, hái yǒu shén me hǎo zhēng de?
    It's there in black and white — what's there to argue about?
  • 白纸黑字，。
    Zhè xiē tiáo kuǎn dōu shì bái zhǐ hēi zì, shuāng fāng dōu dé zūn shǒu.
    These terms are all in black and white; both parties must abide by them.

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.

白纸white paper
白báiwhite纸zhǐpaper
偏正Modifier + head
黑字black writing
黑hēiblack字zìwriting
偏正Modifier + head

'白纸' is white paper and '黑字' is black writing; together they show clear written proof.

Characters in this word

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

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →

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 紙; 纸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
氏
氏shì紙zhǐ
Same sound today

For 纸, the traditional form 紙 combines 糸 (silk) with 氏 (the sound part).

Open 纸 →

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

The shape of 黑 seems to come from drawing a head marked with dots, usually read as facial tattoos.

Open 黑 →

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.

Open 字 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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