====== yiyanjichusimannanzhui: 一言既出，驷马难追 - A Word Once Spoken Cannot Be Recalled ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 一言既出驷马难追, yiyanjichusimannanzhui, yi yan ji chu si ma nan zhui, Chinese proverb about promises, a word once spoken, four-horse chariot, keeping your word in China, the importance of promises, Chinese culture of trust, irrevocable words.
  * **Summary:** "一言既出，驷马难追" (yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī) is a famous Chinese proverb that vividly illustrates the irrevocable nature of spoken words and the profound importance of keeping promises. Literally meaning "once a word is spoken, even a team of four horses cannot chase it back," this idiom emphasizes that commitments are final and must be honored. It is a cornerstone of understanding the Chinese cultural value of trust (信, xìn) and is often used in formal or serious situations to stress the weight of one's word.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>一言既出，驷马难追</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī
  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (成语) - Chinese Idiom / Proverb
  * **HSK Level:** N/A
  * **Concise Definition:** Once a word is spoken, even a team of four horses cannot chase it down.
  * **In a Nutshell:** This proverb paints a powerful mental image. Imagine speaking a word, and it instantly speeds away, so fast that not even a `驷马` (sì mǎ) — a four-horse chariot, one of the fastest modes of transport in ancient China — can catch it. The core concept is finality. It's not just that you //shouldn't// go back on your word; it's that you //can't//. The word is gone, out in the world, and its consequences are set in motion. This idiom serves as a solemn reminder to speak with intention and to always honor your commitments.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **一 (yī):** The number "one" or "a single".
  * **言 (yán):** Word, speech, statement.
  * **既 (jì):** A formal character meaning "already" or "since".
  * **出 (chū):** To go out, to exit.
  * **驷 (sì):** A team of four horses yoked to a chariot. This character is rare in modern Chinese but crucial to the idiom's ancient imagery.
  * **马 (mǎ):** Horse.
  * **难 (nán):** Difficult, hard to do.
  * **追 (zhuī):** To chase, to pursue, to catch up with.
The characters combine to form two clauses: "一言既出 (yī yán jì chū)" — "a single word, once it has gone out" — and "驷马难追 (sì mǎ nán zhuī)" — "a four-horse chariot has difficulty chasing it." The meaning is thus built literally from its parts, creating a powerful and memorable metaphor.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
This idiom is deeply rooted in the Confucian value of **信 (xìn)**, which translates to trustworthiness, integrity, and faithfulness. In Chinese culture, a person's word is a direct reflection of their character and honor. To break a promise is not just a personal failing; it disrupts social harmony and causes a loss of "face" ([[面子]], miànzi).
To an English-speaking learner, a close concept might be "a person is only as good as their word." However, **一言既出，驷马难追** carries a stronger sense of absolute irreversibility. While Western culture might allow for explanations or apologies if a promise is broken ("I'm so sorry, something came up"), the Chinese idiom implies that the act of speaking the promise itself sealed the deal. It's less about the possibility of apology and more about the impossibility of retraction.
This can be contrasted with the Western idea of "brainstorming" or "thinking out loud," where ideas are often thrown out without commitment. In a cultural context shaped by this idiom, words spoken in a serious setting, especially in business or personal relationships, are assumed to carry significant weight and are not easily dismissed as casual remarks.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
This is a relatively formal and serious idiom. You wouldn't use it for trivial, everyday promises.
  * **Making a Solemn Promise:** It is often used right after making a significant commitment to emphasize one's sincerity and determination to follow through. It's a way of saying, "I am fully committed, and there is no turning back."
  * **In Business Negotiations:** A businessperson might use this phrase to assure a partner of their commitment to a deal, adding a layer of traditional honor and gravity to the agreement, sometimes even more potent than a written contract.
  * **Admonishing Others:** A parent might use it to teach a child the importance of their words: "Be careful what you promise, because 一言既出，驷马难追."
  * **Holding Someone to Their Word:** It can be used to remind someone of a promise they made, implying that they are culturally and morally obligated to fulfill it.
The connotation is generally positive and honorable when used to describe one's own commitment, but it can feel pressuring or even slightly confrontational when used to hold someone else accountable.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 你放心，我答应你的事一定会办到，**一言既出，驷马难追**。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ fàngxīn, wǒ dāyìng nǐ de shì yīdìng huì bàn dào, **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**.
    * English: Don't worry, I will definitely do what I promised you. A word once spoken cannot be recalled.
    * Analysis: Here, the speaker is reassuring someone of their commitment. Using the idiom adds a strong sense of honor and sincerity.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 在签合同之前，请仔细考虑，毕竟**一言既出，驷马难追**。
    * Pinyin: Zài qiān hétóng zhīqián, qǐng zǐxì kǎolǜ, bìjìng **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**.
    * English: Before signing the contract, please consider it carefully. After all, once the commitment is made, it's hard to take back.
    * Analysis: This is a form of serious advice or a warning, reminding someone of the gravity and finality of their decision.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 王总，您上次会议说要给我们投资的，**一言既出，驷马难追**啊！
    * Pinyin: Wáng zǒng, nín shàng cì huìyì shuō yào gěi wǒmen tóuzī de, **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī** a!
    * English: Director Wang, you said at the last meeting that you would invest in us. A promise is a promise!
    * Analysis: This usage is a polite but firm way to hold someone to their word. The particle "啊 (a)" at the end softens the tone slightly, but the message is clear.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 父亲从小就教育我，做人要诚实，要记住“**一言既出，驷马难追**”。
    * Pinyin: Fùqīn cóngxiǎo jiù jiàoyù wǒ, zuòrén yào chéngshí, yào jìzhù “**yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**”.
    * English: From a young age, my father taught me that to be a good person, you must be honest and remember that "a word once spoken cannot be recalled."
    * Analysis: This sentence frames the idiom as a core moral principle passed down through generations.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我当时太冲动，说了分手。现在后悔也来不及了，真是**一言既出，驷马难追**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ dāngshí tài chōngdòng, shuōle fēnshǒu. Xiànzài hòuhuǐ yě láibují le, zhēnshi **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**.
    * English: I was too impulsive at the time and said we should break up. Now it's too late for regrets, truly a word once spoken cannot be taken back.
    * Analysis: Here, the idiom is used to express regret over a hasty but consequential statement, highlighting the negative side of its irreversibility.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 作为领导，你的每一个承诺都很重要，**一言既出，驷马难追**，员工们都听着呢。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi lǐngdǎo, nǐ de měi yīgè chéngnuò dōu hěn zhòngyào, **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**, yuángōngmen dōu tīngzhe ne.
    * English: As a leader, every promise you make is important. A commitment once made is final, and the employees are all listening.
    * Analysis: This highlights the use of the idiom in a professional context, emphasizing responsibility and accountability.
  * **Example 7:**
    * "我保证三天内完成任务！" "好，**一言既出，驷马难追**，我们等你的好消息。"
    * Pinyin: "Wǒ bǎozhèng sān tiān nèi wánchéng rènwù!" "Hǎo, **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**, wǒmen děng nǐ de hǎo xiāoxī."
    * English: "I guarantee I will finish the task within three days!" "Okay, a promise is a promise, we'll wait for your good news."
    * Analysis: In this dialogue, the second speaker uses the idiom to acknowledge and accept the first speaker's solemn promise, effectively locking it in.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他是个信守承诺的人，说过的话就是**一言既出，驷马难追**。
    * Pinyin: Tā shì ge xìnshǒu chéngnuò de rén, shuōguò de huà jiùshì **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**.
    * English: He is a man who keeps his promises; what he says is as good as done.
    * Analysis: This is used to describe someone's character, portraying them as highly reliable and trustworthy.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 古代的侠客最重承诺，对他们来说，**一言既出，驷马难追**是基本的行为准则。
    * Pinyin: Gǔdài de xiákè zuì zhòng chéngnuò, duì tāmen lái shuō, **yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī** shì jīběn de xíngwéi zhǔnzé.
    * English: The knights-errant of ancient times valued promises above all else; for them, a word once spoken being irrevocable was a fundamental code of conduct.
    * Analysis: This example places the idiom in a historical/cultural context, linking it to the archetype of an honorable hero.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 我既然答应了要保密，就一定会做到。你还不相信我吗？**一言既出，驷马难追**！
    * Pinyin: Wǒ jìrán dāyìngle yào bǎomì, jiù yīdìng huì zuò dào. Nǐ hái bù xiāngxìn wǒ ma? **Yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī**!
    * English: Since I promised to keep it a secret, I will definitely do it. You still don't believe me? A promise is a promise!
    * Analysis: Used defensively here, the speaker invokes the idiom to reinforce their integrity and to dismiss any doubt about their ability to keep their word.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Using it for trivial matters.** This idiom carries significant weight. Using it for a minor, everyday promise sounds overly dramatic and can be seen as insincere.
    * **Incorrect:** 我保证今天下午去买菜，**一言既出，驷马难追**！ (Wǒ bǎozhèng jīntiān xiàwǔ qù mǎi cài, yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī!) -> //I promise to go grocery shopping this afternoon, a word once spoken cannot be recalled!// (This is overkill and sounds strange.)
    * **Correct:** 我今天下午一定去买菜。(Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ yīdìng qù mǎi cài.) -> //I will definitely go grocery shopping this afternoon.//
  * **False Friend: "Letting the cat out of the bag."** An English speaker might think this idiom is about revealing information that can't be taken back. While both involve irreversible speech, their focus is different. "Letting the cat out of the bag" is about accidentally //revealing a secret//. **一言既出，驷马难追** is about the //binding power of a deliberate promise or statement//. One is about a slip-up, the other is about honor and commitment.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[一诺千金]] (yī nuò qiān jīn) - "One promise, a thousand gold pieces." A synonym that emphasizes the immense //value// of a promise.
  * [[言而无信]] (yán ér wú xìn) - "To speak but lack trustworthiness." The direct antonym, describing someone who breaks their promises.
  * [[说一不二]] (shuō yī bù èr) - "Say one, not two." Describes a person who is decisive and means what they say; their word is final.
  * [[君子一言]] (jūnzǐ yī yán) - "A gentleman's single word." This is often the first half of the full phrase: 君子一言，驷马难追 (Jūnzǐ yī yán, sì mǎ nán zhuī), emphasizing that this code of conduct is especially true for an honorable person.
  * [[信]] (xìn) - The core Confucian value of trustworthiness, integrity, and faithfulness that underpins this idiom.
  * [[承诺]] (chéngnuò) - The modern, standard word for "a promise" or "commitment." This is the word you'd use in everyday conversation.
  * [[覆水难收]] (fù shuǐ nán shōu) - "Spilled water is hard to retrieve." A similar concept of irreversibility, but it's broader. It can apply to any action or situation that cannot be undone, not just to spoken words or promises.