言而有信

yán'éryǒuxìn

idiom #39,934

Meanings

1 speak and keep one's word
2 trustworthy
3 as good as one's word

Characters

trust / credibility

Examples

做人要言而有信，不能失信于人。

Zuòrén yào yán ér yǒu xìn, bùnéng shīxìn yú rén.

A person should keep their word and never break trust.

他一向言而有信，从不欺骗别人。

Tā yíxiàng yán ér yǒu xìn, cóng bù qīpiàn biérén.

He has always kept his word and never deceived anyone.

Tips

history

From 《论语·学而》: Confucius's disciple Zixia says 与朋友交，言而有信 — 'in dealings with friends, speak and keep your word.' A pillar of Confucian ethics.

Stroke Order

言 yán

而 ér

有 yǒu

信 xìn