带，衣带。砺，砥石。河山带砺是古代帝王分封功臣的誓辞，意指即使黄河细如衣带，泰山小如砥石，但国家依旧存在，誓约依旧有效。“砺”文献异文作“厉”。语本《史记・卷十八・高袓功臣侯者年表・序》：“封爵之誓曰：『使河如带，泰山若厉。国以永宁，爰及苗裔。』”比喻国基坚固，国祚永存。《唐・陆贽・赐李纳王武俊等铁券文》：“子孙代代，为国勋臣，河山带砺，传祚无绝。”
Even the Huanghe River becomes as thin as a stripe and Mount Tai becomes as small as a grindstone.