yán ér yǒu xìn: 言而有信 - To be true to one's word, Trustworthy

• Keywords: yaneryouxin, yán ér yǒu xìn, 言而有信, keep one's word, keep a promise, trustworthy, man of his word, reliable, credible, Chinese idiom for trust, integrity, honesty in Chinese culture, Confucian values.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn), a fundamental Chinese idiom that means being true to one's word and keeping promises. This page explores its deep cultural roots in Confucianism, where trustworthiness is a core virtue. Learn how to use this powerful expression to describe a person of integrity in business and personal life, and understand why being 言而有信 is crucial for building relationships in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yán ér yǒu xìn
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be someone who keeps their promises and can be trusted to do what they say.
• In a Nutshell: 言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn) describes a person whose words (`言`) have weight and credibility (`信`). It’s the quality of being utterly reliable. When a person is 言而有信, you know that their promises are not empty talk. It's a highly valued personal characteristic that forms the bedrock of trust in any relationship.

• 言 (yán): Word, speech, to say. It represents the promise or statement being made.
• 而 (ér): A grammatical particle that connects the two parts, meaning “and thus” or “and yet.” Here it links the action of speaking with the result.
• 有 (yǒu): To have, to possess.
• 信 (xìn): Trust, faith, credibility, confidence. This is the result of keeping one's word.

The characters literally combine to mean “[When one] speaks, and thus has trust.” The meaning is clear: one's speech is backed by credibility. Your words and your actions are in alignment.

言而有信 is not just a useful phrase; it's a cornerstone of Chinese ethics, deeply embedded in Confucian philosophy. Trust (`信`, xìn) is one of the Five Constants (五常, wǔcháng), the cardinal virtues of Confucianism, alongside benevolence (`仁`, rén), righteousness (`义`, yì), propriety (`礼`, lǐ), and wisdom (`智`, zhì). A person who is 言而有信 is considered a `君子 (jūnzǐ)`, or a person of noble character. This concept is central to building and maintaining `关系 (guānxi)`, or social networks. In a culture that has historically relied more on personal relationships than on abstract legal systems, a person's reputation for trustworthiness is their most valuable asset. Comparison to Western Culture: In the West, we have similar concepts like “a man of his word” or “your word is your bond.” These are strong expressions of personal integrity. However, 言而有信 carries a deeper societal weight. In the West, breaking a promise might make you seen as unreliable or flaky. In a Chinese context, being `言而无信 (yán ér wú xìn)` (the antonym) can fundamentally damage your social standing and reputation, making it difficult to conduct business or maintain relationships. It is seen as a profound moral failing, not just a personal flaw.

This chengyu is formal but widely understood and used in various contexts. It's almost always a high compliment.

• In Business: Trust is paramount. Stating that a potential partner is 言而有信 is one of the highest praises you can give. Contracts are important, but a person's reputation for keeping their verbal commitments can be even more so.
• In Personal Relationships: It's used to describe a reliable friend, family member, or partner. It signifies that this person is a rock you can depend on.
• In Official Contexts: Government officials and company leaders often use this phrase in speeches to promise that they will follow through on their commitments to the people or their employees.

The connotation is overwhelmingly positive. You use it to praise someone's character or to state a principle you live by.

• Example 1:
  • 他是个言而有信的人，你完全可以相信他。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge yán ér yǒu xìn de rén, nǐ wánquán kěyǐ xiāngxìn tā.
  • English: He is a man of his word; you can completely trust him.
  • Analysis: This is a classic and direct way to praise someone's character, recommending them to a third party.
• Example 2:
  • 在商业世界里，言而有信是成功的基础。
  • Pinyin: Zài shāngyè shìjiè lǐ, yán ér yǒu xìn shì chénggōng de jīchǔ.
  • English: In the business world, being true to your word is the foundation of success.
  • Analysis: This sentence states a general principle, highlighting the importance of this virtue in a professional context.
• Example 3:
  • 我们老板一向言而有信，他说会给我们加薪，就一定会加。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen lǎobǎn yíxiàng yán ér yǒu xìn, tā shuō huì gěi wǒmen jiāxīn, jiù yídìng huì jiā.
  • English: Our boss has always been a person of their word; if they say they'll give us a raise, they definitely will.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase is used to build confidence in a superior's promise based on their past behavior.
• Example 4:
  • 做人要言而有信，不能轻易许下自己做不到的承诺。
  • Pinyin: Zuòrén yào yán ér yǒu xìn, bùnéng qīngyì xǔxià zìjǐ zuòbúdào de chéngnuò.
  • English: To be a person of integrity, you must be true to your word and not easily make promises you can't keep.
  • Analysis: This sentence is used as a piece of advice or a moral exhortation, teaching a core value.
• Example 5:
  • 我向你保证，我一定会言而有信，按时完成这个项目。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiàng nǐ bǎozhèng, wǒ yídìng huì yán ér yǒu xìn, ànshí wánchéng zhège xiàngmù.
  • English: I promise you, I will absolutely keep my word and finish this project on time.
  • Analysis: This is a self-declaration, using the phrase to make a very strong and formal commitment.
• Example 6:
  • 这家公司以言而有信闻名，所以我们选择和他们合作。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī yǐ yán ér yǒu xìn wénmíng, suǒyǐ wǒmen xuǎnzé hé tāmen hézuò.
  • English: This company is famous for its integrity, which is why we chose to partner with them.
  • Analysis: The phrase is used here to describe a corporate entity's reputation, not just an individual's.
• Example 7:
  • 作为一个领导，你必须言而有信，才能赢得下属的尊重。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yí ge lǐngdǎo, nǐ bìxū yán ér yǒu xìn, cáinéng yíngdé xiàshǔ de zūnzhòng.
  • English: As a leader, you must be true to your word to win the respect of your subordinates.
  • Analysis: This highlights the instrumental value of this trait in a leadership context.
• Example 8:
  • 古代的君子都把言而有信看作是重要的品德。
  • Pinyin: Gǔdài de jūnzǐ dōu bǎ yán ér yǒu xìn kànzuò shì zhòngyào de pǐndé.
  • English: The gentlemen of ancient times all regarded being true to one's word as an important virtue.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides historical and cultural context, linking the phrase to the ideal of the `君子 (jūnzǐ)`.
• Example 9:
  • 他上次说了谎，现在没人觉得他言而有信了。
  • Pinyin: Tā shàngcì shuō le huǎng, xiànzài méi rén juéde tā yán ér yǒu xìn le.
  • English: He lied last time, so now no one thinks he is trustworthy anymore.
  • Analysis: This shows the consequence of failing to be 言而有信. Trust, once lost, is hard to regain.
• Example 10:
  • 尽管面临巨大压力，他依然做到了言而有信，履行了他的诺言。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn miànlín jùdà yālì, tā yīrán zuòdào le yán ér yǒu xìn, lǚxíng le tā de nuòyán.
  • English: Despite facing immense pressure, he remained true to his word and fulfilled his promise.
  • Analysis: This example emphasizes that true integrity is demonstrated when it is difficult to maintain.

• False Friends: “Honest” vs. “Trustworthy”.
  • English speakers might confuse 言而有信 with `诚实 (chéngshí)`, which means “honest.” While related, they are different. `诚实` is about not telling lies (truthfulness of statements about the past or present). 言而有信 is about fulfilling promises (reliability of statements about the future). You can honestly admit you won't keep a promise, but that is the opposite of being 言而有信.
• Common Pitfall: Overusing it for Trivial Matters.
  • 言而有信 is a weighty, formal term. Using it for small, everyday promises can sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic.
  • Incorrect: 我说我会带零食，我可是言而有信的！(Wǒ shuō wǒ huì dài língshí, wǒ kěshì yán ér yǒu xìn de!) - “I said I'd bring snacks, I'm a person of my word!”
  • Why it's wrong: This is too formal for such a casual situation. It sounds like you're making a grand moral statement about bringing snacks.
  • Better: 我说话算话，说了带就一定会带。(Wǒ shuōhuà suànhuà, shuō le dài jiù yídìng huì dài.) - “I keep my word. If I said I'd bring them, I definitely will.” The phrase `说话算话 (shuōhuà suànhuà)` is a more colloquial equivalent.

• 一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn) - “A single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.” A vivid synonym that emphasizes the immense value of a promise.
• 守信用 (shǒu xìnyòng) - A more modern, common verb phrase meaning “to be trustworthy” or “to keep one's credit.” It's less literary than 言而有信 but used frequently in business and daily life.
• 说话算话 (shuō huà suàn huà) - “One's speech counts.” A colloquial and very common way to say someone keeps their word.
• 言而无信 (yán ér wú xìn) - The direct antonym: “to speak but have no credibility.” This describes someone who is untrustworthy and breaks promises.
• 背信弃义 (bèi xìn qì yì) - A much stronger antonym, meaning “to betray trust and abandon righteousness.” This implies a serious moral betrayal.
• 信誉 (xìnyù) - “Credibility, reputation, prestige.” This is the result or asset one gains from being 言而有信.
• 诚实 (chéngshí) - “Honest.” As discussed above, this relates to telling the truth, whereas 言而有信 relates to keeping promises.
• 君子 (jūnzǐ) - “Gentleman, noble person.” In Confucian thought, a `君子` is the ideal person, and being 言而有信 is one of their defining characteristics.