Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== yán ér wú xìn: 言而无信 - To go back on one's word, Untrustworthy, Faithless ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** yan er wu xin, 言而无信, go back on one's word Chinese, untrustworthy in Chinese, break a promise Chinese, Chinese idiom for liar, chengyu for untrustworthy, faithless, lack of integrity, Chinese culture promise * **Summary:** **言而无信 (yán ér wú xìn)** is a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe someone who is untrustworthy and consistently fails to keep their promises. More than just breaking a promise, it condemns a person's fundamental character, suggesting they lack the core virtue of integrity (**信, xìn**). Understanding **言而无信** is key to grasping the deep cultural importance placed on being a person of your word in Chinese society, from personal relationships to business dealings. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yán ér wú xìn * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (成语) / Adjective Phrase * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** To be faithless and not keep one's word. * **In a Nutshell:** This isn't about a simple, one-time broken promise. **言而无信 (yán ér wú xìn)** is a strong accusation that describes a person's core character. It means their words are empty because they are not backed by **信 (xìn)**—a concept blending trust, integrity, and faith. To be called **言而无信** is to be labeled as fundamentally unreliable and dishonorable. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **言 (yán):** Speech, words, to say. * **而 (ér):** A classical conjunction meaning "but" or "and yet," connecting the first part (speaking) to the second (the result). * **无 (wú):** Without, to not have, a lack of. * **信 (xìn):** Trust, faith, integrity, credibility, belief. This is a crucial character in Chinese ethics. The characters literally combine to mean: "To speak words, but have no integrity/trust." This paints a vivid picture of someone whose promises are hollow and worthless because they lack the foundational virtue of **信 (xìn)**. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **言而无信** is deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy. **信 (xìn)**, or integrity/trustworthiness, is one of the Five Constants (五常, Wǔcháng), the cardinal virtues of Confucianism. Therefore, being **言而无信** is not just a personal failing; it's a violation of a core social and ethical principle that has structured Chinese society for millennia. A person's word is seen as a direct reflection of their honor and moral standing. * **Comparison to Western Culture:** In the West, being "a person of your word" is highly valued. However, accusing someone of being **言而无信** carries a much heavier weight than saying "you broke your promise." The English phrase often refers to a specific action, while the Chinese chengyu is a damning judgment on the person's entire character and moral fiber. It implies they are not a **君子 (jūnzǐ)**, or "noble person," and are thus unworthy of respect or responsibility. This value permeates all aspects of life, making one's reputation (**信用, xìnyòng**) paramount in business and social interactions. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== This is a formal and very strong term. It is not used lightly for trivial matters. * **In Business:** Accusing a partner or company of being **言而无信** is a serious charge. It implies they have breached contracts, failed to deliver on agreements, and are fundamentally untrustworthy to do business with in the future. * **In Personal Relationships:** Using this term in an argument with a friend or partner signifies a deep breach of trust. It's reserved for major promises that have been broken, such as repeated infidelity or a failure to provide promised support in a time of crisis. * **In Politics and Social Commentary:** It's frequently used to criticize politicians or governments that fail to fulfill their campaign promises or international agreements. It is a powerful tool for expressing public discontent and moral condemnation. * **Connotation & Formality:** The connotation is exclusively negative and carries a heavy, formal tone. Using it for a minor issue (like someone being late) would be seen as a dramatic overreaction. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他是个**言而无信**的人，你再也不应该相信他了。 * Pinyin: Tā shì ge **yán ér wú xìn** de rén, nǐ zài yě bù yīnggāi xiāngxìn tā le. * English: He is an untrustworthy person; you should never believe him again. * Analysis: This is a straightforward statement and a warning, describing someone's fundamental character. The use of the term justifies the advice to no longer trust them. * **Example 2:** * 这家公司**言而无信**，收了钱却不发货。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī **yán ér wú xìn**, shōu le qián què bù fā huò. * English: This company is faithless; they took the money but didn't ship the goods. * Analysis: A common usage in a business or consumer context. It strongly condemns the company's practices and serves as a warning to others. * **Example 3:** * 做人最基本的原则就是不能**言而无信**。 * Pinyin: Zuòrén zuì jīběn de yuánzé jiùshì bùnéng **yán ér wú xìn**. * English: The most fundamental principle of being a decent person is that you cannot be someone who goes back on their word. * Analysis: This sentence expresses the cultural value behind the idiom. It frames trustworthiness not as a choice, but as a basic requirement for being a good person. * **Example 4:** * 你答应过我的！你怎么可以这么**言而无信**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ dāyìng guo wǒ de! Nǐ zěnme kěyǐ zhème **yán ér wú xìn**? * English: You promised me! How can you be so untrustworthy? * Analysis: Used here as a direct, emotional accusation in a personal conflict. The speaker feels deeply betrayed. * **Example 5:** * 那个政客在竞选中做出了很多承诺，但他最后却**言而无信**，一个都没实现。 * Pinyin: Nàge zhèngkè zài jìngxuǎn zhōng zuòchū le hěn duō chéngnuò, dàn tā zuìhòu què **yán ér wú xìn**, yí ge dōu méi shíxiàn. * English: That politician made a lot of promises during the campaign, but in the end, he went back on his word and didn't realize a single one. * Analysis: A typical example from a political context, highlighting a politician's failure to deliver on their promises. * **Example 6:** * 我们不能与**言而无信**的伙伴合作，因为风险太大了。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng yǔ **yán ér wú xìn** de huǒbàn hézuò, yīnwèi fēngxiǎn tài dà le. * English: We cannot cooperate with partners who are untrustworthy because the risk is too great. * Analysis: This demonstrates the practical consequence of being labeled **言而无信** in a professional setting—exclusion and loss of opportunity. * **Example 7:** * 古代的君子以**言而无信**为耻。 * Pinyin: Gǔdài de jūnzǐ yǐ **yán ér wú xìn** wéi chǐ. * English: The gentlemen of ancient times considered it a disgrace to be untrustworthy. * Analysis: This sentence provides historical and cultural context, linking the concept to the ideal of the **君子 (jūnzǐ)**, or noble person. * **Example 8:** * 他一再推迟还款日期，真是个**言而无信**的家伙。 * Pinyin: Tā yízài tuīchí huánkuǎn rìqī, zhēn shì ge **yán ér wú xìn** de jiāhuo. * English: He repeatedly postpones the repayment date; he's truly an untrustworthy fellow. * Analysis: This shows the term being applied to a specific, repeated behavior (delaying debt repayment) that reveals a person's unreliable character. * **Example 9:** * 如果你不想被别人看作是**言而无信**的人，就一定要说到做到。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bùxiǎng bèi biérén kànzuò shì **yán ér wú xìn** de rén, jiù yídìng yào shuō dào zuò dào. * English: If you don't want to be seen by others as an untrustworthy person, you must do what you say you will do. * Analysis: This sentence contrasts **言而无信** with its antidote, **说到做到 (shuō dào zuò dào)**, offering clear, actionable advice. * **Example 10:** * 我最讨厌的就是**言而无信**和出尔反尔的人。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn de jiùshì **yán ér wú xìn** hé chū ěr fǎn ěr de rén. * English: The people I hate the most are those who are faithless and those who are inconsistent. * Analysis: This sentence pairs **言而无信** with a similar idiom, **出尔反尔 (chū ěr fǎn ěr)**, to strongly express a dislike for unreliable people. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Don't Use It For Trivial Matters:** The most common mistake for learners is using this heavy term for minor issues. If your friend forgets to bring a book they promised, they are not **言而无信**. They just forgot (忘了, wàngle). Using **言而无信** here would be like using a cannon to shoot a fly; it's overly dramatic and could damage the relationship. Reserve it for serious breaches of trust. * **Incorrect:** 你忘了给我打电话，你太**言而无信**了！(Nǐ wàng le gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà, nǐ tài yán ér wú xìn le!) -> You forgot to call me, you're so untrustworthy! (This is far too strong). * **Correct:** 你怎么忘了给我打电话？(Nǐ zěnme wàng le gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà?) -> How could you forget to call me? * **False Friend: "Liar" (说谎的人, shuōhuǎng de rén):** While someone who is **言而无信** is likely a liar, the terms have different focuses. **说谎 (shuōhuǎng)** means "to tell a lie"—to state something that is factually untrue. **言而无信** specifically focuses on the failure to act on a promise or statement of intent. A person can tell the truth about their intention at the moment of speaking, but if they fail to follow through, they become **言而无信**. The chengyu attacks their lack of integrity and follow-through, not just their factual accuracy. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **Antonyms (The Ideal):** * [[一言为定]] (yī yán wéi dìng) - "It's a deal," "That's settled." Literally "one word makes it fixed," emphasizing the power of a verbal agreement. * [[说到做到]] (shuō dào zuò dào) - "To do what one says." A highly praised quality that is the direct opposite of **言而无信**. * [[言而有信]] (yán ér yǒu xìn) - The direct antonym: "To speak and have trust," meaning someone who keeps their word. * **Synonyms / Similar Concepts:** * [[出尔反尔]] (chū ěr fǎn ěr) - To go back on one's word, to be inconsistent. This term often emphasizes the changeability and fickleness of a person. * [[食言]] (shí yán) - Literally "to eat one's words." This is a more common, slightly less formal verb for breaking a promise. (e.g., 你不能食言 - You can't go back on your word). * **Related Core Values/Concepts:** * [[诚信]] (chéngxìn) - Integrity, good faith. This is the virtue that a **言而无信** person lacks. * [[信用]] (xìnyòng) - Credit, trustworthiness, reputation. A person's **信用** is destroyed when they are known to be **言而无信**. * [[君子]] (jūnzǐ) - The Confucian ideal of a gentleman or noble person, who would view being **言而无信** as a profound source of shame. * [[守信]] (shǒu xìn) - To keep one's promise, to be trustworthy. The action of upholding **信 (xìn)**.