qiān zhēn wàn què: 千真万确 - Absolutely True, Genuinely a Fact

• Keywords: qianzhenwanque, 千真万确, Chinese idiom for true, absolutely true in Chinese, how to use qianzhenwanque, Chinese chengyu for certainty, unquestionably true, beyond a doubt in Chinese, Chinese idiom meaning
• Summary: Discover the meaning and usage of 千真万确 (qiān zhēn wàn què), a powerful Chinese idiom (Chengyu) that means “absolutely true” or “beyond a shadow of a doubt.” This guide explains its cultural context, character breakdown, and provides numerous practical examples for beginner learners to master how to express unwavering certainty in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiān zhēn wàn què
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu / 成语)
• HSK Level: N/A (Considered an advanced but very common idiom)
• Concise Definition: Something is absolutely true and completely certain; without a doubt.
• In a Nutshell: “千真万确” is a highly emphatic way to state that something is a fact. It's not just saying “it's true”; it's like shouting “it's a thousand times true and ten thousand times certain!” This idiom is used to erase all doubt and convince the listener of the absolute reality of a statement, often with a sense of gravity or conviction.

• 千 (qiān): Thousand. In Chinese, large numbers like a thousand or ten thousand are often used to mean “many,” “a great deal,” or “completely.”
• 真 (zhēn): True, real, genuine. This is the core of the idiom's meaning.
• 万 (wàn): Ten thousand. This further amplifies the sense of scale and completeness.
• 确 (què): Certain, sure, definite. This adds a layer of confirmation and certainty.

The characters literally combine to mean “a thousand truths, ten thousand certainties.” This poetic hyperbole creates an overwhelming image of undeniable fact. It's not just a single truth, but a mountain of truths and certainties piled on top of each other, making the statement unshakable.

• Emphasis on Veracity: In Chinese culture, conveying information with confidence and clarity is highly valued. “千真万确” serves as a powerful tool to establish one's credibility and the truthfulness of a message. It's a verbal guarantee, signaling that the speaker is completely certain and takes full responsibility for the statement's accuracy.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: An English speaker might say “it's a stone-cold fact,” “gospel truth,” or “beyond a shadow of a doubt.” While the function is similar—to express absolute certainty—the Chinese approach is different. “千真万确” uses numerical hyperbole (`千` and `万`) to create its effect, a common rhetorical device in Chinese idioms (Chengyu). This contrasts with the English phrases, which often draw from legal (“beyond a doubt”) or religious (“gospel truth”) domains. The Chinese idiom feels more like an overwhelming consensus of reality rather than a single, proven point.

• Formality: “千真万确” can be used in both formal and informal settings, but its emphatic nature means it's reserved for situations where certainty needs to be strongly stressed.
• Formal Contexts: You will often hear or read it in news reports, official announcements, or historical accounts to emphasize that the information being presented is verified and factual. For example, a spokesperson might use it to quell rumors.
• Informal Contexts: In daily conversation, it's used to win an argument, share surprising news you've verified, or reassure a doubtful friend. It adds a dramatic flair and signals, “I'm not kidding, this is 100% real.”
• Connotation: It carries a strong, definitive, and neutral-to-positive connotation. It simply affirms a fact with great force. It is rarely used sarcastically.

• Example 1:
  • 这消息是千真万确的，电视台已经报道了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiāoxi shì qiān zhēn wàn què de, diànshìtái yǐjīng bàodào le.
  • English: This news is absolutely true; the TV station has already reported it.
  • Analysis: Here, the speaker is citing an authoritative source (the TV station) to back up the claim, making “千真万确” very convincing.
• Example 2:
  • 我亲眼看见他赢了比赛，这事千真万确！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ qīnyǎn kànjiàn tā yíng le bǐsài, zhè shì qiān zhēn wàn què!
  • English: I saw him win the competition with my own eyes, this is an undeniable fact!
  • Analysis: The phrase “亲眼看见” (qīnyǎn kànjiàn - to see with one's own eyes) is often paired with “千真万确” to emphasize firsthand experience as proof.
• Example 3:
  • A: 你确定这是老板的原话吗？ B: 千真万确，我一个字都没改。
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ quèdìng zhè shì lǎobǎn de yuánhuà ma? B: Qiān zhēn wàn què, wǒ yí ge zì dōu méi gǎi.
  • English: A: Are you sure these are the boss's exact words? B: Absolutely certain, I didn't change a single word.
  • Analysis: Here, “千真万确” is used as a standalone response to strongly affirm something and dispel doubt.
• Example 4:
  • 历史书上写得清清楚楚，那场战役的结局是千真万确的。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ shū shàng xiě de qīngqīngchǔchǔ, nà chǎng zhànyì de jiéjú shì qiān zhēn wàn què de.
  • English: It's written clearly in the history books; the outcome of that battle is an established fact.
  • Analysis: This example shows its use in a more formal, academic context to refer to well-documented historical facts.
• Example 5:
  • 尽管这个发现听起来很不可思议，但科学数据证明它是千真万确的。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn zhège fāxiàn tīngqǐlái hěn bùkěsīyì, dàn kēxué shùjù zhèngmíng tā shì qiān zhēn wàn què de.
  • English: Although this discovery sounds incredible, the scientific data proves that it is absolutely true.
  • Analysis: This idiom is perfect for situations that seem unbelievable but are backed by solid evidence.
• Example 6:
  • 他对你的感情是千真万确的，你就别再怀疑了。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì nǐ de gǎnqíng shì qiān zhēn wàn què de, nǐ jiù bié zài huáiyí le.
  • English: His feelings for you are completely genuine, so don't doubt them anymore.
  • Analysis: The idiom can also be used to describe intangible things like feelings or intentions, emphasizing their sincerity.
• Example 7:
  • 警方发布的公告证实了目击者的证词是千真万确的。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng fābù de gōnggào zhèngshí le mùjīzhě de zhèngcí shì qiān zhēn wàn què de.
  • English: The announcement released by the police confirmed that the witness's testimony was entirely factual.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a formal, official context related to law and order.
• Example 8:
  • 我一开始也不信，但后来发现他说的话句句都是千真万确。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yī kāishǐ yě bù xìn, dàn hòulái fāxiàn tā shuō de huà jùjù dōu shì qiān zhēn wàn què.
  • English: I didn't believe it at first either, but later I discovered that every sentence he said was the absolute truth.
  • Analysis: The phrase “句句都是” (jùjù dōu shì - every sentence is) amplifies the scope of the truthfulness.
• Example 9:
  • 这幅画是名家真迹，千真万确，价值连城。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fú huà shì míngjiā zhēnjì, qiān zhēn wàn què, jiàzhíliánchéng.
  • English: This painting is an authentic work by a famous artist, without a doubt, and it's priceless.
  • Analysis: Used in the context of authenticating a valuable item, “千真万确” adds a strong sense of authority and finality.
• Example 10:
  • 地球是圆的，这是一个千真万确的科学事实。
  • Pinyin: Dìqiú shì yuán de, zhè shì yí ge qiān zhēn wàn què de kēxué shìshí.
  • English: The Earth is round; this is an indisputable scientific fact.
  • Analysis: Perfect for describing fundamental, universally accepted truths.

• Don't Overuse It for Trivial Facts: Using “千真万确” to say “The sun rises in the east” would sound overly dramatic and a bit strange. Its power lies in its ability to confirm information that might be surprising, doubted, or particularly important.
• False Friend: “真的” (zhēn de): A beginner might confuse “千真万确” with “真的” (zhēn de), which means “really” or “true.”
  • 真的 (zhēn de): Used for simple confirmation. “这个消息是真的吗？” (Is this news true?)
  • 千真万确 (qiān zhēn wàn què): Used for emphatic, undeniable confirmation. It answers the question with overwhelming force. It's the difference between “It's true” and “It is 100%, absolutely, undeniably true.”
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: 我觉得他明天可能会来，这件事是千真万确的。 (Wǒ juéde tā míngtiān kěnéng huì lái, zhè jiàn shì shì qiān zhēn wàn què de.)
  • Why it's wrong: The sentence starts with “I think he might come” (我觉得…可能), which expresses uncertainty. This directly contradicts the absolute certainty of “千真万确”. You cannot be “absolutely certain” about a “maybe.”
  • Correct: 他亲口告诉我他明天会来，这件事是千真万确的。 (He personally told me he will come tomorrow, this is absolutely true.)

• 确实 (quèshí): Indeed; really. A common adverb used to confirm something that was just mentioned, but much less emphatic.
• 的确 (díquè): Indeed. Very similar to 确实, used to agree with a statement or confirm a fact.
• 毫无疑问 (háo wú yí wèn): Without a doubt. A more literal and slightly less poetic synonym for “千真万确”.
• 板上钉钉 (bǎn shàng dìng dīng): “A nail on the board.” A chengyu meaning a matter is settled, fixed, and cannot be changed. It focuses on the finality of a decision, while “千真万确” focuses on the truth of a fact.
• 毋庸置疑 (wú yōng zhì yí): No room for doubt. A very formal, written idiom with a similar meaning. Often found in official documents or academic texts.
• 真的 (zhēn de): Really; true. The most basic and common way to express truth or ask about it.
• 假的 (jiǎ de): Fake; false. The direct antonym of “真的”.
• 半信半疑 (bàn xìn bàn yí): Half-believing, half-doubting. An antonym describing a state of uncertainty or skepticism.