言不顺则事不成

言不順則事不成

yánbùshùnzéshìbùchéng

phrase

Meanings

1 if words are not in proper order, then affairs will not succeed
2 (fig.) clarity of language / legitimacy of titles is a precondition for effective action
3 (lit.) speech — not — ordered — then — matter — not — succeed

Characters

to succeed / accomplish

Examples

制度未定就仓促推行，必败，言不顺则事不成。

Zhìdù wèi dìng jiù cāngcù tuīxíng, bì bài, yán bù shùn zé shì bù chéng.

Rolling out policy before the framework is set is bound to fail — 'if words aren't in order, affairs won't succeed.'

孔子讲名不正则言不顺，言不顺则事不成。

Kǒngzǐ jiǎng míng bù zhèng zé yán bù shùn, yán bù shùn zé shì bù chéng.

Confucius said: 'if names aren't correct, speech won't be ordered; if speech isn't ordered, affairs won't succeed.'

Tips

history

From 《论语·子路》 (Analects, Zilu chapter, ~5th-4th c. BCE), part of Confucius's 正名 ('rectification of names') doctrine: 名不正则言不顺，言不顺则事不成，事不成则礼乐不兴，礼乐不兴则刑罚不中，刑罚不中则民无所措手足 (If names are not correct, speech is not in order; if speech is not in order, affairs won't succeed; if affairs don't succeed, rites and music won't flourish; if rites and music don't flourish, punishments won't hit their mark; if punishments miss, the people have nowhere to place their hands and feet). A five-link chain grounding political order in linguistic precision.

usage

Always canonically preceded by 名不正则言不顺. 则 = classical 'then.' 顺 here = 'smooth / in order / logically follows' — not 'obedient.' The line is central to Chinese political-philosophical discourse on legitimacy and clear definition.

Stroke Order

言 yán

不 bù

顺 shùn

则 zé

事 shì

成 chéng