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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liánhéCoordinate

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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