fāshì: 发誓 - To Swear, To Vow, To Take an Oath

• 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).

• 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.”

• 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.

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.

While still a serious act, 发誓 appears in various modern contexts, from deeply sincere to dramatically emphatic.

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.

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 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.

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.

• 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.