一言为定 yī yán wéi dìng a word is a word

Explanation

指说话算数，说到做到，决不反悔。形容人言出必行，诚实守信。

It means to keep one's word, to do what one has promised, and never to go back on one's word. It describes someone who is true to their word, honest and trustworthy.

Origin Story

从前，在一个村庄里，住着一位名叫老张的农民。老张为人诚实，说话算数，在村里很有名望。有一天，老张的邻居李大婶家的牛走丢了，李大婶非常着急。老张听说后，立刻放下手中的活，带着李大婶一起去找牛。他们找了整整一天，才在山坡上找到了走失的牛。李大婶感激地说：“老张，真是多亏了你，要不是你，我家的牛就找不回来了。”老张笑着说：“这没什么，一言为定，我答应过你一定帮你找到牛，就一定会找到的。”老张的言出必行，让李大婶对他更加敬佩。从此以后，村里人都称赞老张是“一言为定”的好人。

cóng qián, zài yī gè cūn zhuāng lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào lǎo zhāng de nóng mín. lǎo zhāng wéi rén chéng shí, shuō huà suàn shù, zài cūn lǐ hěn yǒu míng wàng. yǒu yī tiān, lǎo zhāng de lín jū lǐ dà shěn jiā de niú zǒu diū le, lǐ dà shěn fēi cháng zháo jí. lǎo zhāng tīng shuō hòu, lì kè fàng xià shǒu zhōng de huó, dài zhe lǐ dà shěn yī qǐ qù zhǎo niú. tā men zhǎo le zhěng zhěng yī tiān, cái zài shān pō shàng zhǎo dào le zǒu shī de niú. lǐ dà shěn gǎn jī de shuō: “lǎo zhāng, zhēn shì duō kuī le nǐ, yào bù shì nǐ, wǒ jiā de niú jiù zhǎo bù huí lái le.” lǎo zhāng xiào zhe shuō: “zhè méi shén me, yī yán wéi dìng, wǒ dā yìng guò nǐ yī dìng bāng nǐ zhǎo dào niú, jiù yī dìng huì zhǎo dào de.” lǎo zhāng de yán chū bì xíng, ràng lǐ dà shěn duì tā gèng jiā jìng pèi. cóng cǐ yǐ hòu, cūn lǐ dōu chēng zàn lǎo zhāng shì “yī yán wéi dìng” de hǎo rén.

Once upon a time, in a village, lived a farmer named Old Zhang. Old Zhang was honest and kept his word, he was very respected in the village. One day, the cow of Li Da Shen's neighbor got lost, Li Da Shen was very worried. When Old Zhang heard about it, he immediately put down his work and went with Li Da Shen to find the cow. They searched the whole day, until they found the lost cow on a hill. Li Da Shen said gratefully: “Old Zhang, it's all thanks to you. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten my cow back.” Old Zhang smiled and said: “No problem, a word is a word, I promised you that I would help you find the cow, and I will find it.” Old Zhang's word was his law, which made Li Da Shen even more impressed by him. From then on, the people in the village praised Old Zhang as a good man who “keeps his word”.

Usage

当人们想要表达自己说话算数，并且希望对方也同样信守承诺的时候，就可以用这个成语。

dāng rén men xiǎng yào biǎo dá zì jǐ shuō huà suàn shù, bìng qiě xī wàng duì fāng yě tóng yàng xìn shǒu chéng nuò de shí hòu, jiù kě yǐ yòng zhè ge chéng yǔ.

When people want to express that they will keep their word and hope that the other party will also keep their promise, they can use this idiom.

Examples

• 我们已经谈妥了，一言为定，你就不要再反悔了。

  wǒ men yǐ jīng tán tuǒ le, yī yán wéi dìng, nǐ jiù bù yào zài fǎn huǐ le.

  We have already agreed, a word is a word, you should not regret it.

• 这次合作，我们一言为定，一定能取得成功。

  zhè cì hé zuò, wǒ men yī yán wéi dìng, yī dìng néng qǔ dé chéng gōng.

  In this cooperation, we have a word, a word is a word, we will surely succeed.

Related Idioms

• 信守承诺

• 一诺千金

• 言而有信

Opposite Idioms

• 食言

• 反悔

• 出尔反尔