引经据典

• Pinyin: yǐn jīng jù diǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 引 = 弓 + 丨 (bow + arrow — to draw from); 经 = 纟+ 巠 (silk + water — canonical threads, classic texts); 据 = 扌+ 据 (hand + seize — to base upon, to cite as authority); 典 = 册 + 丌 (books + stand — venerable canonical texts)

Meaning

To cite the classics; to quote authoritative texts and historical precedents in support of an argument. A four-character idiom (成语).

A fixed 成语 meaning 'to draw on canonical texts (经) and cite established precedents (典)'. Used both admiringly (thorough, well-grounded scholarship) and critically (pedantic, over-reliant on historical sources at the expense of practical judgment). Common in academic writing, legal argumentation, political speech, and literary criticism. Reflects the Confucian tradition of grounding arguments in classical authority.

Examples

1. 这位教授在回应学生提问时总是引经据典，每一个观点背后都有详尽的文献支撑，令人信服之余也令初学者深感知识体系的博大深厚。 When answering students’ questions, this professor always cites the classics and authoritative sources; every point is backed by thorough references, which is convincing—and also makes beginners keenly aware of how vast and deep the knowledge system is.
2. 律师在最终陈词中引经据典，援引了多项历史判例和宪法条文，试图从法律原则的根本层面论证其委托人的诉求具有充分的正当性。 In his closing statement, the lawyer cited classic authorities, drawing on historical precedents and constitutional provisions to argue from first principles that his client’s claims were fully legitimate.
3. 这篇政论文章旁征博引、引经据典，将古代治国理念与当代政策困境相互印证，展现出作者深厚的历史学养和独到的现实洞察力。 This political commentary piece draws on a wide range of sources and repeatedly cites classic texts, using ancient ideas of governance to illuminate today’s policy dilemmas and showcasing the author’s deep historical training and sharp real-world insight.

Usage Guide

Context: academic writing, law, political speech, literary criticism, debate

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该学者在专著中引经据典，对儒家政治哲学与东亚国家建构作了比较分析。(In his monograph, the scholar cited the classics and compared Confucian political philosophy with state-building in East Asia.)
• 这位年轻辩手在决赛中引经据典、论据充分，连先秦哲学和宋明理学都被他用来支撑观点。(In the final, this young debater cited the classics and made a strong case, even using pre-Qin philosophy and Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism to support his views.)

Don't Say

• 他引经据典地解释了怎么做菜 — 引经据典 implies citation of authoritative scholarly or historical texts; applying it to cooking instructions or everyday practical matters is incongruous and sounds ironic; use it for genuine scholarly, legal, or philosophical argument

Origin & History

引 (to cite/lead — drawing from a source) + 经 (classic text — 纟silk thread + 巠 running water; threads woven through time, canonical texts) + 据 (to rely upon — 扌hand + 据 seize; to grip, to base upon) + 典 (canonical precedent — 册 bamboo book + 丌 stand; venerable texts on a stand)

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal