起誓

qǐshì

verb #9,360

Meanings

To raise an oath — to formally swear.

他对天起誓再也不喝酒了。

Tā duì tiān qǐshì zàiyě bù hējiǔ le.

He swore to the heavens he'd never drink again.

她起誓要为父亲报仇。

Tā qǐshì yào wèi fùqīn bàochóu.

She vowed to avenge her father.

我起誓说的都是真话。

Wǒ qǐshì shuō de dōu shì zhēnhuà.

I swear everything I said is the truth.

usage

起誓 is more formal/literary than 发誓 (fāshì), which is the everyday word for 'to swear.' 起誓 often appears in historical/legal/religious contexts.

In everyday speech, people say 发誓 far more often. 起誓 sounds more solemn and is common in court scenes, novels, and period dramas.

起 qǐ

誓 shì