Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
金人三缄
金人三缄
金人三缄
金人三缄
金人三缄
金人三缄
金人三缄
金人三缄

金人三缄 — “Golden man with three seals on its mouth”

金人三缄 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to remain silent or tight-lipped due to apprehension, caution, or prudence; to keep one's thoughts to oneself”. Literally, “Golden man with three seals on its mouth”.

Frequency

金人三缄 Pronunciation and Pinyin

金人三缄 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
金
jīn8gold, metal, money
人
rén2human being, person
三
sān3the number three
缄
jiān12seal, close, keep silent

Example Sentence with 金人三缄

面对突如其来的变故,他选择金人三缄,不发表任何意见。
Faced with the sudden turn of events, he chose to remain tight-lipped and offered no opinions.

Origin and Story of 金人三缄

During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius visited the ancestral temple of the King of Zhou in the Zhou dynasty's capital. As it was a highly sacred place, visitors were expected to remain silent.

Confucius observed a bronze statue positioned on the right side of the main hall's steps. Its mouth was sealed with three strips, and an inscription on its back read: 'This is the ancient exemplar of someone who spoke with the utmost caution and prudence.'

Idioms Related to 金人三缄

Synonyms of 金人三缄

  • jiān缄kǒu口bù不yán言seal one's lips and keep silent

Antonyms of 金人三缄

  • tāo滔tāo滔bù不jué绝talk volubly and incessantly

More idioms starting with 金

  • jīn金bù不huàn换Priceless; not to be exchanged for gold
  • jīn金dān丹huàn换gǔ骨profound artistic transformation
  • jīn金wū乌xī西zhuì坠,,yù玉tù兔dōng东shēng升day turns to night
  • jīn金shū书tiě铁quàn券Emperor's inviolable pledge of perpetual privilege
  • jīn金rén人zhī之zhēn箴remain silent out of caution
  • jīn金rén人zhī之jiān缄Keep silent due to apprehension
  • jīn金rén人jiān缄kǒu口speak cautiously or remain silent
  • jīn金guāng光càn灿làn烂Dazzlingly brilliant golden light
  • jīn金guāng光gài盖dì地Money reigns supreme
  • jīn金guāng光shǎn闪shǎn闪Glittering with golden light
  • jīn金lán兰zhī之jiāo交strong, intimate friendship
  • jīn金lán兰zhī之yǒu友close friends

Recommended tools

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Questions about 金人三缄

What does 金人三缄 mean?

金人三缄 (jīn rén sān jiān) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to remain silent or tight-lipped due to apprehension, caution, or prudence; to keep one's thoughts to oneself”.

How do you pronounce 金人三缄?

金人三缄 is pronounced jīn rén sān jiān in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 金人三缄 literally mean?

Literally, 金人三缄 means “Golden man with three seals on its mouth”. It is used to mean “to remain silent or tight-lipped due to apprehension, caution, or prudence; to keep one's thoughts to oneself”.

Where does 金人三缄 come from?

金人三缄 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 金人三缄?

比喻因有顾虑而闭口不说话。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us