出尔反尔 chū ěr fǎn ěr go back on one's word

Explanation

这个成语比喻言行前后不一致，反复无常。指说话不算数，答应的事情做不到。

This idiom refers to someone who is inconsistent in their words and actions, fickle. It means someone who doesn't keep their word or promises.

Origin Story

古代有位名叫商鞅的政治家，他在秦国推行变法，为了使法令得到有效执行，他便立了木桩，并承诺凡是能把木桩从城门搬到北门的人，就奖励他五十金。许多人看到如此重赏，却不敢尝试，唯有一个年轻人，他相信商鞅的承诺，并毅然决然地把木桩从城门搬到了北门。商鞅果然兑现了承诺，赏给了他五十金，以此证明他的诚信。然而，随着商鞅的变法不断深入，一些权贵利益受到损害，他们便开始出尔反尔，诋毁商鞅的变法。最终，商鞅被权贵们陷害，惨遭车裂之刑。商鞅的变法虽然取得了一定的成效，但他最终却因为权贵们的出尔反尔而被处以极刑，这不禁让人感到惋惜。

gǔ dài yǒu wèi míng jiào shāng yāng de zhèng zhì jiā, tā zài qín guó tuī xíng biàn fǎ, wèi le shǐ fǎ lìng dé dào yǒu xiào zhí xíng, tā jiù lì le mù zhuāng, bìng chéng nuò fán shì néng bǎ mù zhuāng cóng chéng mén bān dào běi mén de rén, jiù jiǎng líng tā wǔ shí jīn. xǔ duō rén kàn dào rú cǐ zhòng shǎng, què bù gǎn cháng shì, wéi yǒu yī gè nián qīng rén, tā xiāo xìn shāng yāng de chéng nuò, bìng yì rán jué rán de bǎ mù zhuāng cóng chéng mén bān dào le běi mén. shāng yāng guǒ rán duì xiàn le chéng nuò, shǎng gěi le tā wǔ shí jīn, yǐ cǐ zhèng míng tā de chéng xìn. rán ér, suī zhòu shāng yāng de biàn fǎ bù duàn shēn rù, yī xiē quán guì lì yì shòu dào sǔn hài, tā men jiù kāi shǐ chū ěr fǎn ěr, dǐ huǐ shāng yāng de biàn fǎ. zuì zhōng, shāng yāng bèi quán guì men xiàn hài, cǎn zāo chē liè zhī xíng. shāng yāng de biàn fǎ suī rán qǔ dé le yī dìng de chéng xiào, dàn tā zuì zhōng què yīn wéi quán guì men de chū ěr fǎn ěr ér bèi chǔ yǐ jí xíng, zhè bù jīn ràng rén gǎn dào wǎn xī.

In ancient times, there was a statesman named Shang Yang who implemented reforms in Qin. To ensure that the laws were effectively enforced, he erected a wooden stake and promised anyone who could carry the stake from the city gate to the north gate a reward of fifty gold coins. Many people saw the high reward but dared not try, only one young man who believed Shang Yang's promise dared and carried the stake from the city gate to the north gate. Shang Yang kept his promise and rewarded him with fifty gold coins, to prove his integrity. However, as Shang Yang's reforms progressed, the interests of some nobles were hurt, and they began to go back on their word and slander Shang Yang's reforms. Eventually, Shang Yang was tricked by the nobles and executed by a cruel death. Shang Yang's reforms had some success, but he was eventually executed because of the nobles' breaking of their word, which is a great loss.

Usage

这个成语用来形容说话不算数，言行不一致的人。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yòng lái xíng róng shuō huà bù suàn shù, yán xíng bù yī zhì de rén.

This idiom is used to describe someone who doesn't keep their word and whose words and actions don't match.

Examples

• 他答应了要来帮忙，结果却出尔反尔，让我很失望。

  tā dā yīng le yào lái bāng zhù, jié guǒ què chū ěr fǎn ěr, ràng wǒ hěn shī wàng.

  He promised to help, but he went back on his word, which made me very disappointed.

• 说话要算数，不能出尔反尔。

  shuō huà yào suàn shù, bù néng chū ěr fǎn ěr.

  You should keep your word and not go back on your words.

• 做生意讲信用，不能出尔反尔，否则会失去客户的信任。

  zuò shēng yì jiǎng xìn yòng, bù néng chū ěr fǎn ěr, fǒu zé huì shī qù kè hù de xìn rèn.

  Business is about trust and credibility. If you go back on your word, you will lose customers.

Related Idioms

• 反复无常

• 言而无信

• 出尔反尔

Opposite Idioms

• 言行一致

• 信守承诺

• 一诺千金