tiger tally (a two-piece object made in the shape of a tiger, used in ancient China as proof of authority. One half of a tally could be issued to a military officer and this would be matched with the other half when verification was required.)
lit. to see whether it's a mule or a horse, take it out for a walk (idiom) / fig. the proof of the pudding is in the eating / to show what one is made of
mere verbal statement cannot be taken as proof (idiom)
The four tones
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