言而有信
言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn) literally means “words with trustworthiness” and expresses “to be true to one's word”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: yan er you xin, yan er you xin,言而有信 meaning, 言而有信 in english
To be true to one's word
Pronunciation: yán ér yǒu xìn Literal meaning: Words with trustworthiness
Origin & Usage
The line is Zixia's, not Confucius's: in the Analects he sets out what he would call a learned man, ending with one who, in dealings with friends, speaks (言) and is (而有) as good as his word (信). The list is deliberately made of ordinary conduct rather than of study, which is his argument. Chinese still treats the phrase as a plain statement of what makes someone worth dealing with, and it carries real weight in commercial contexts where the handshake precedes the contract.
Examples
English: "A leader must always keep their promises to maintain credibility."
Chinese: 一个领导者必须言而有信，才能保持信誉。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
信口开河
xìn kǒu kāi hé
Talk irresponsibly; make things up
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信手拈来
xìn shǒu niān lái
Create effortlessly from mastery
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半信半疑
bàn xìn bàn yí
Half believing, half doubting; unable to tell true from false
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言行一致
yán xíng yī zhì
Practice what one preaches
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有教无类
yǒu jiào wú lèi
Teach anyone, whatever their station
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三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Weigh it before you move
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半途而废
bàn tú ér fèi
Quitting before completion
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死而后已
sǐ ér hòu yǐ
Continue until death; lifelong commitment
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 言而有信 mean in English?
言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn) literally translates to “Words with trustworthiness” and is used to express “To be true to one's word”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 言而有信 used?
Situation: A leader must always keep their promises to maintain credibility.
What is the pinyin for 言而有信?
The pinyin pronunciation for 言而有信 is “yán ér yǒu xìn”.