xìnshǒu chéngnuò: 信守承诺 - To Keep a Promise, To Honor a Commitment

• Keywords: xìnshǒu chéngnuò, 信守承诺, keep a promise Chinese, honor a commitment in Chinese, Chinese word for trustworthy, to keep one's word, Chinese business culture, integrity in Chinese, chengxin, nuoyan, Chinese values.
• Summary: “信守承诺 (xìnshǒu chéngnuò)” is a formal Chinese term that means to faithfully keep one's promises and honor one's commitments. More than just a simple action, it reflects a person's core integrity, reliability, and honor. Understanding this concept is crucial for building deep personal relationships and succeeding in Chinese business culture, where one's word is often considered a sacred bond.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìnshǒu chéngnuò
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Idiom (Chengyu)
• HSK Level: HSK 5/6 Level
• Concise Definition: To faithfully abide by a promise or to honor a commitment one has made.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “信守承诺 (xìnshǒu chéngnuò)” as the Chinese equivalent of “one's word is one's bond,” but elevated to a principle of personal character. It’s not just about doing what you said you would do; it’s about proving you are a person of integrity (`诚信 chéngxìn`) and honor. The term carries a significant weight of moral and social responsibility.

• 信 (xìn): Trust, faith, belief, sincerity. It's the foundation of all relationships.
• 守 (shǒu): To keep, to guard, to defend. It implies actively protecting something.
• 承 (chéng): To undertake, to bear, to receive a responsibility.
• 诺 (nuò): A promise, a pledge.

These characters combine powerfully. `信守 (xìnshǒu)` means to “keep with faith/sincerity.” `承诺 (chéngnuò)` means a “promise that has been undertaken.” Together, “信守承诺 (xìnshǒu chéngnuò)” literally means “to faithfully guard the promise you have undertaken.” This structure emphasizes both the sincerity of the promise and the dedicated action required to fulfill it.

• In Chinese culture, `信 (xìn)`, or trustworthiness, is one of the Five Constant Virtues of Confucianism (五常 - wǔcháng). It's a cornerstone of what it means to be a `君子 (jūnzǐ)`, a person of noble character. Therefore, to `信守承诺` is to embody a core tenet of traditional Chinese ethics. A person's ability to keep their word directly impacts their social standing, or “face” (`面子 - miànzi`).
• Comparison to Western Culture: While in the West, “keeping a promise” is also valued, it's often reinforced by legally binding contracts. A contract defines the terms and penalties for failure. `信守承诺` operates on a higher plane of personal and social morality. In many Chinese contexts, especially in building `关系 (guānxi)`, a verbal commitment from a trusted partner can feel more secure than a written contract from a stranger. Breaking such a promise is not just a breach of agreement but a profound act of `背信弃义 (bèixìnqìyì)`—a betrayal of trust and righteousness that can permanently damage one's reputation.

• Business: This is a golden phrase in the business world. A company that is known to `信守承诺` is considered a reliable and highly sought-after partner. It's often used in corporate mission statements, marketing materials, and formal negotiations to emphasize reliability.
• Personal Relationships: For significant promises between friends, family, or partners, this term is appropriate. Promising to help a friend through a difficult time or to take care of one's aging parents are situations where `信守承诺` applies. It conveys the seriousness of the pledge.
• Formality: This is a formal and serious term. You would not use it for trivial things like promising to call someone back in five minutes. Doing so would sound overly dramatic. For casual situations, a simpler phrase like `说话算话 (shuōhuà suànhuà)` (what I say, counts) is more suitable.

• Example 1:
  • 他是一个信守承诺的人，你完全可以信任他。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè xìnshǒu chéngnuò de rén, nǐ wánquán kěyǐ xìnrèn tā.
  • English: He is a man who keeps his promises; you can completely trust him.
  • Analysis: This is a common way to describe someone's character, praising their integrity.
• Example 2:
  • 在商业世界里，信守承诺是建立长期合作关系的基础。
  • Pinyin: Zài shāngyè shìjiè lǐ, xìnshǒu chéngnuò shì jiànlì chángqī hézuò guānxì de jīchǔ.
  • English: In the business world, honoring commitments is the foundation for building long-term partnerships.
  • Analysis: Highlights the term's critical importance in a professional, business context.
• Example 3:
  • 我向你保证，我一定会信守承诺，完成这个项目。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiàng nǐ bǎozhèng, wǒ yīdìng huì xìnshǒu chéngnuò, wánchéng zhège xiàngmù.
  • English: I promise you, I will definitely honor my commitment and complete this project.
  • Analysis: Used here as a solemn pledge. The speaker is emphasizing their dedication and reliability.
• Example 4:
  • 一个不信守承诺的政府是无法赢得人民的信任的。
  • Pinyin: Yīgè bù xìnshǒu chéngnuò de zhèngfǔ shì wúfǎ yíngdé rénmín de xìnrèn de.
  • English: A government that does not keep its promises cannot win the trust of the people.
  • Analysis: A negative example, showing the serious consequences of failing to honor commitments, often used in political or social commentary.
• Example 5:
  • 无论遇到多大困难，我们都应该信守承诺。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn yùdào duōdà kùnnán, wǒmen dōu yīnggāi xìnshǒu chéngnuò.
  • English: No matter how great the difficulties we encounter, we should all keep our promises.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames `信守承诺` as a moral imperative, a principle to be upheld despite challenges.
• Example 6:
  • 我们的公司以信守承诺为核心价值观。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de gōngsī yǐ xìnshǒu chéngnuò wéi héxīn jiàzhíguān.
  • English: Our company takes “honoring commitments” as its core value.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how the term is used in corporate branding and ethics statements.
• Example 7:
  • 他对妻子信守承诺，照顾了她一辈子。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì qīzi xìnshǒu chéngnuò, zhàogùle tā yībèizi.
  • English: He kept his promise to his wife and took care of her his whole life.
  • Analysis: A powerful example from a personal, lifelong context, showing deep love and responsibility.
• Example 8:
  • 父母应该教育孩子从小就要学会信守承诺。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ yīnggāi jiàoyù háizi cóngxiǎo jiù yào xuéhuì xìnshǒu chéngnuò.
  • English: Parents should teach their children to learn to keep their promises from a young age.
  • Analysis: This shows that `信守承诺` is a fundamental virtue taught to children.
• Example 9:
  • 既然你答应了他，就必须信守承诺，不能让他失望。
  • Pinyin: Jìrán nǐ dāyìngle tā, jiù bìxū xìnshǒu chéngnuò, bùnéng ràng tā shīwàng.
  • English: Since you agreed to help him, you must honor your commitment and not let him down.
  • Analysis: Connects the act of promising (`答应 dāying`) with the necessary follow-up action of `信守承诺`.
• Example 10:
  • 他宁愿自己吃亏，也要信守承诺，真是个君子。
  • Pinyin: Tā nìngyuàn zìjǐ chīkuī, yě yào xìnshǒu chéngnuò, zhēnshi gè jūnzǐ.
  • English: He would rather suffer a loss himself than break his promise; he is truly a person of noble character.
  • Analysis: This example elevates the concept, linking it directly to the Confucian ideal of a `君子 (jūnzǐ)` and the idea of self-sacrifice for the sake of integrity.

• Not just “to promise”: A common mistake for learners is to use `信守承诺` to mean “to make a promise.” The term actually refers to the *action of fulfilling a promise that has already been made*. The act of making a promise is simply `承诺 (chéngnuò)` or `答应 (dāying)`.
  • Correct: 我答应帮你，就一定会信守承诺。 (Wǒ dāying bāng nǐ, jiù yīdìng huì xìnshǒu chéngnuò.) - I promised to help you, so I will definitely keep my promise.
  • Incorrect: 我信守承诺我明天会帮你。(Wǒ xìnshǒu chéngnuò wǒ míngtiān huì bāng nǐ.) - This is grammatically awkward. You would say 我承诺 (wǒ chéngnuò)… or 我答应 (wǒ dāying)…
• Formality Mismatch: Using this formal term for a casual promise sounds strange. If you promise a friend you'll bring snacks to a party, saying 我会信守承诺 is overkill. You would just say `我说话算话 (wǒ shuōhuà suànhuà)` or `放心吧，我忘不了 (fàngxīn ba, wǒ wàngbuliǎo)`.

• `诚信 (chéngxìn)` - Integrity, good faith. This is the underlying personal quality that drives someone to `信守承诺`.
• `承诺 (chéngnuò)` - (n./v.) a promise; to promise. This is the core object/action that is being “kept” in `信守承诺`.
• `一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn)` - “One promise, a thousand gold pieces.” A chengyu emphasizing the immense value of a promise. A highly poetic synonym.
• `言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn)` - “To be true to one's word.” A chengyu that focuses specifically on the reliability of one's speech. Very similar to `信守承诺`.
• `说话算话 (shuōhuà suànhuà)` - “What is said, counts.” A more colloquial and common way to say you keep your word. Less formal than `信守承诺`.
• `背信弃义 (bèixìnqìyì)` - “To betray trust and abandon righteousness.” The direct antonym, describing the dishonorable act of breaking a serious promise or treaty.
• `信用 (xìnyòng)` - Credit, trustworthiness (in a financial or social sense). Your `信用` is built by consistently being a person who `信守承诺`.
• `保证 (bǎozhèng)` - To guarantee, to assure. This is more about providing assurance before an event, whereas `信守承诺` is about fulfilling the pledge after it's made.
• `君子 (jūnzǐ)` - A gentleman; a person of noble character. In Confucian philosophy, a `君子` is the ideal person who always `信守承诺`.