====== fāshì: 发誓 - To Swear, To Vow, To Take an Oath ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** fashi, 发誓, to swear in Chinese, to take an oath in Chinese, make a vow Chinese, Chinese promise, Chinese culture, HSK 5, Chinese swear words vs oaths
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and cultural weight of the Chinese word **发誓 (fāshì)**, which means "to swear an oath" or "to make a solemn vow." This guide breaks down its characters, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. Discover why **发誓** is a powerful declaration of intent, much more serious than a casual promise, and how it differs from the English concept of "swearing" (using profanity).
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fāshì
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To make a solemn promise or declaration, often invoking a consequence for breaking it.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **发誓 (fāshì)** is the act of making a very serious, binding promise. It's not a word you use lightly. When someone in China says "我发誓 (Wǒ fāshì)...", they are staking their personal honor and credibility on the truth of their statement. It implies a deep level of sincerity and commitment, far beyond a simple "I promise."
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **发 (fā):** The core meaning of **发** is "to send out," "to issue," or "to emit." Think of firing an arrow or sending a message.
  * **誓 (shì):** This character means "oath" or "vow." It's composed of **言 (yán)**, the radical for "speech" or "words," and **折 (zhé)**, which originally depicted an axe (斤) breaking something, suggesting finality or a "break" with untruth.
Together, **发誓 (fāshì)** literally means "to send out an oath"—to formally issue words that are binding and final.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, words have weight, and a vow is one of the heaviest. The act of **发誓 (fāshì)** is deeply tied to concepts of personal honor, credibility, and "face" ([[面子]], miànzi).
Unlike in English, where "I swear" can be used casually for emphasis ("I swear, the traffic was terrible!"), **发誓** retains a strong sense of gravity. To break a vow made with **发誓** is a serious social transgression that can permanently damage one's reputation and relationships. It suggests a fundamental character flaw.
Historically and in fiction (especially Wuxia novels), characters often **发誓** to seal alliances, avenge wrongs, or declare unwavering loyalty. These oaths are often accompanied by a self-imposed curse for breaking them. A classic example is **天打雷劈 (tiān dǎ léi pī)**, "to be struck by heaven's thunder and lightning." If someone says, "如果我撒谎，就让我天打雷劈 (If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning)," they are making the most serious vow possible. This demonstrates the belief that a vow is a pact not just between people, but with a higher cosmic order.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
While still a serious act, **发誓** appears in various modern contexts, from deeply sincere to dramatically emphatic.
==== Sincere Declarations ====
This is the word's core usage. It's used to convey absolute sincerity in situations involving trust, love, and integrity.
  * **In relationships:** To profess undying love or faithfulness.
  * **Proving innocence:** To strongly deny an accusation when one's honor is at stake.
==== For Emphasis or Exaggeration ====
In more casual, conversational settings, **发誓** can be used hyperbolically to emphasize a point or a strong resolution. It's still stronger than "I promise," but the context implies a degree of drama rather than a life-or-death vow.
  * **Making a resolution:** "After that exam, I **发誓** I will never procrastinate again!" (我发誓我再也不拖延了！)
  * **Social media:** Used in posts to add dramatic flair to a story or opinion.
===== Example Sentences =====
**Example 1:**
  *   我**发誓**，我永远不会离开你。
  *   Pinyin: Wǒ **fāshì**, wǒ yǒngyuǎn bùhuì líkāi nǐ.
  *   English: I swear, I will never leave you.
  *   Analysis: A classic, sincere use of **发誓** in a romantic context. It conveys a deep, solemn commitment.
**Example 2:**
  *   他向警察**发誓**自己没有偷东西。
  *   Pinyin: Tā xiàng jǐngchá **fāshì** zìjǐ méiyǒu tōu dōngxi.
  *   English: He swore to the police that he didn't steal anything.
  *   Analysis: Here, **发誓** is used to strongly assert innocence in a formal and serious situation.
**Example 3:**
  *   我**发誓**，如果我再吃一块蛋糕，我就一个月不喝奶茶！
  *   Pinyin: Wǒ **fāshì**, rúguǒ wǒ zài chī yī kuài dàngāo, wǒ jiù yī gè yuè bù hē nǎichá!
  *   English: I swear, if I eat one more piece of cake, I won't drink bubble tea for a month!
  *   Analysis: This is a hyperbolic, informal use. The speaker is making a dramatic personal resolution, using **发誓** for emphasis.
**Example 4:**
  *   你敢**发誓**你刚才说的是真话吗？
  *   Pinyin: Nǐ gǎn **fāshì** nǐ gāngcái shuō de shì zhēn huà ma?
  *   English: Do you dare to swear that what you just said is the truth?
  *   Analysis: This is a confrontational question, challenging someone's honesty by asking them to elevate their claim to a formal vow.
**Example 5:**
  *   爸爸**发誓**要戒烟，但这次他能成功吗？
  *   Pinyin: Bàba **fāshì** yào jièyān, dàn zhè cì tā néng chénggōng ma?
  *   English: Dad vowed to quit smoking, but can he succeed this time?
  *   Analysis: This shows a strong intention. The use of **发誓** highlights the difficulty of the task and the seriousness of the commitment.
**Example 6:**
  *   如果我骗了你，就让我天打雷劈。我**发誓**！
  *   Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ piàn le nǐ, jiù ràng wǒ tiān dǎ léi pī. Wǒ **fāshì**!
  *   English: If I deceived you, may I be struck by lightning. I swear!
  *   Analysis: This is the ultimate form of **发誓**, including a specific, supernatural consequence. It's used to express absolute, undeniable truthfulness.
**Example 7:**
  *   他们对着国旗**发誓**，永远忠于祖国。
  *   Pinyin: Tāmen duìzhe guóqí **fāshì**, yǒngyuǎn zhōngyú zǔguó.
  *   English: They swore to the flag to be forever loyal to their country.
  *   Analysis: A very formal and ceremonial use of **发誓**, often seen in military, political, or civic contexts.
**Example 8:**
  *   我**发誓**我把钥匙放在桌子上了，现在怎么不见了？
  *   Pinyin: Wǒ **fāshì** wǒ bǎ yàoshi fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le, xiànzài zěnme bùjiàn le?
  *   English: I swear I put the keys on the table, how are they missing now?
  *   Analysis: A common, slightly dramatic, everyday usage to express certainty and frustration. The speaker is absolutely sure of their memory.
**Example 9:**
  *   不要轻易**发誓**，因为你可能做不到。
  *   Pinyin: Bùyào qīngyì **fāshì**, yīnwèi nǐ kěnéng zuò bù dào.
  *   English: Don't swear an oath lightly, because you might not be able to fulfill it.
  *   Analysis: This sentence itself is a piece of advice that perfectly captures the cultural weight of **发誓**.
**Example 10:**
  *   为了让大家相信他，他不得不**发誓**。
  *   Pinyin: Wèile ràng dàjiā xiāngxìn tā, tā bùdébù **fāshì**.
  *   English: In order to make everyone believe him, he had no choice but to swear an oath.
  *   Analysis: This shows that **发誓** is a tool used to establish credibility when words alone are not enough.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
**The Biggest Mistake: Confusing "To Vow" with "To Curse"**
In English, the verb "to swear" has two main meanings:
1.  To make a solemn promise (e.g., "I swear to tell the truth").
2.  To use profane language or curse words (e.g., "He was swearing at the other driver").
**发誓 (fāshì) ONLY means the first one.** It has absolutely nothing to do with using bad language. This is a critical distinction for learners.
//Incorrect:// 他很生气，所以他开始**发誓**。 (He was angry, so he started **fāshì**.)
  *   **Why it's wrong:** This incorrectly implies he started using profane language.
//Correct:// 他很生气，所以他开始**骂人 (màrén)** / **说脏话 (shuō zānghuà)**。 (He was angry, so he started cursing / speaking profanities.)
**Overusing for Simple Promises**
For a simple, everyday promise, using **发誓** can sound overly dramatic and even insincere. For less serious commitments, use a more appropriate word.
//A bit too dramatic:// 我**发誓**我明天会给你打电话。(I **swear** I'll call you tomorrow.)
//More natural:// 我**保证**明天会给你打电话。(I **guarantee** I'll call you tomorrow.)
//Even more casual:// 我明天**答应**给你打电话。(I **promise** to call you tomorrow.)
Use **发誓** when you need to convey that this promise is different—it's more serious, more sincere, and breaking it would have significant consequences.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[保证]] (bǎozhèng) - To guarantee; to ensure. A strong promise, but less solemn and more common in everyday and business contexts than **发誓**.
  *   [[承诺]] (chéngnuò) - A commitment; a promise (noun or verb). More formal than **保证**, but lacks the "life or death" gravity of **发誓**.
  *   [[誓言]] (shìyán) - An oath; a vow (noun). This is the thing you create when you **发誓**. Example: "立下誓言" (lì xià shìyán - to make a vow).
  *   [[起誓]] (qǐshì) - To take an oath. A more formal or literary synonym for **发誓**.
  *   [[赌咒]] (dǔzhòu) - To swear an oath that includes a specific curse on oneself if it's broken. It is a very strong and vivid type of **发誓**.
  *   [[答应]] (dāyìng) - To agree; to promise. A very common and casual word for making simple agreements.
  *   [[面子]] (miànzi) - "Face"; social standing; honor. The cultural concept of reputation that is at stake when one **发誓**.
  *   [[骂人]] (màrén) - To curse at someone; to scold. This is the "swearing" that involves bad language, which **发誓** is not.