yán言wordszhī之of itzáo凿solidzáo凿solid
Speaking with absolute certainty — as if it's chiselled in stone.
Literal meaning
words (言) — of it (之) — solid (凿) — solid (凿)
Origin
A classical phrase whose key element 凿凿 (chisel-chisel) intensifies into the sense of solid, irrefutable. Used (often slightly critically) when someone's certainty exceeds the evidence behind it.
Examples
Tā他yán言zhī之záo凿záo凿de地shuō说qīn亲yǎn眼kàn看jiàn见le了。
He insisted absolutely that he saw it with his own eyes.
Yán言zhī之záo凿záo凿de的bù不yí一dìng定shì是shì事shí实。
Confident assertions aren't necessarily facts.
Usage & nuances
Often subtly skeptical. Used when someone's certainty feels suspiciously firm.
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