一言为定

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一言为定 [2025/08/10 10:45] – created xiaoer一言为定 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== yī yán wéi dìng: 一言为定 - It's a Deal, That's Settled, A Promise is a Promise ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** 一言为定, yi yan wei ding, Chinese for "it's a deal", "that's settled", "a promise is a promise", Chinese idiom, how to make a promise in Chinese, verbal agreement, Chinese chengyu, HSK 5. +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the powerful Chinese idiom **一言为定 (yī yán wéi dìng)**, the direct equivalent of saying "It's a deal!" or "A promise is a promise." This page breaks down the meaning, cultural significance, and practical use of this essential phrase. Understand how **一言为定** is used to seal a verbal agreement with a sense of honor and finality, making it a crucial term for both casual conversation and business negotiations in China. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yī yán wéi dìng +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ) +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** One word and it's settled; a verbal agreement is final and binding. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **一言为定 (yī yán wéi dìng)** is the go-to phrase for confirming a plan or promise with absolute certainty. It transforms a simple suggestion into a sealed deal, carrying the weight of personal honor. Think of it as a verbal handshake that means, "You have my word, and I won't go back on it." It’s stronger than a simple "okay" and signals that the matter is now considered closed. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **一 (yī):** The number "one" or "a single." +
-  * **言 (yán):** Means "word," "speech," or "saying." +
-  * **为 (wéi):** A versatile character meaning "to be," "to act as," or "to become." Here it functions like "serves as" or "becomes." +
-  * **定 (dìng):** Means "to fix," "to settle," or "to decide." It implies stability and finality. +
-The characters combine literally to mean "one word becomes fixed/settled." This beautifully captures the idea that a single, spoken statement is enough to finalize an entire agreement. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-**一言为定** is deeply rooted in the Chinese cultural value of **信 (xìn)**, which translates to trustworthiness, integrity, and good faith. Historically, a person's word was their bond, and their reputation depended on their ability to keep promises. +
-To understand its cultural weight, contrast it with the common Western phrase, "Let's get that in writing." In many Western cultures, particularly in business, a verbal agreement is often seen as a preliminary step before the "real" agreement—the written contract. +
-In China, while written contracts ([[合同]], hétong) are essential for modern business, **一言为定** elevates a verbal promise to a matter of personal honor. To agree with **一言为定** and then back out would cause a significant loss of "face" ([[面子]], miànzi), damaging one's reputation and trustworthiness. It signifies that the speaker's integrity is the guarantee, which is often as, or even more, important than a piece of paper in building relationships ([[关系]], guānxì). +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-This idiom is extremely common and versatile, used across various social settings. +
-  * **Informal Plans:** It's the standard way to firmly confirm plans with friends, family, or colleagues. +
-    *   "明天下午三点在咖啡馆见？" (Míngtiān xiàwǔ sān diǎn zài kāfēiguǎn jiàn?) - "See you at the coffee shop at 3 PM tomorrow?" +
-    *   "好，**一言为定**！" (Hǎo, yī yán wéi dìng!) - "Okay, it's a deal!" +
-  * **Negotiations and Business:** In business settings, it can be used to signal the end of a negotiation and the beginning of a partnership, even before the contracts are signed. It's a powerful way to build trust and show commitment. Saying it implies, "My word is good. We have an agreement." +
-  * **Making Promises:** It's used to add weight and sincerity to a promise. +
-    *   "你保证会帮我吗？" (Nǐ bǎozhèng huì bāng wǒ ma?) - "Do you promise you'll help me?" +
-    *   "当然，**一言为定**。" (Dāngrán, yī yán wéi dìng.) - "Of course, a promise is a promise." +
-The connotation is always positive and firm. Its formality is flexible; it's used in everyday chats and serious discussions alike, but it always carries a serious tone of commitment. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 我们周五晚上一起吃饭，**一言为定**！ +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhōuwǔ wǎnshàng yīqǐ chīfàn, **yī yán wéi dìng**! +
-    * English: We'll have dinner together on Friday night, that's settled! +
-    * Analysis: This is a classic example of using the phrase to finalize casual social plans among friends. It adds a friendly but firm confirmation. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * A: 这个价格可以吗？ (Zhège jiàgé kěyǐ ma?) - Is this price okay? +
-    * B: 可以，**一言为定**！ (Kěyǐ, **yī yán wéi dìng**!) - Yes, it's a deal! +
-    * Analysis: Here, it's used in a simple negotiation, like at a market. It signals acceptance of the terms and closes the bargain. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 你答应我以后不迟到了。咱们**一言为定**？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ dāyìng wǒ yǐhòu bù chídào le. Zánmen **yī yán wéi dìng**? +
-    * English: You promise me you won't be late again in the future. Is it a deal? +
-    * Analysis: Using it as a question, "一言为定？", is a common way to seek a firm commitment from someone. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 好吧，你负责技术，我负责市场。**一言为定**，我们一起创业。 +
-    * Pinyin: Hǎo ba, nǐ fùzé jìshù, wǒ fùzé shìchǎng. **Yī yán wéi dìng**, wǒmen yīqǐ chuàngyè. +
-    * English: Okay, you handle the technology, and I'll handle the marketing. That's settled, let's start a business together. +
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a more serious context, sealing a verbal agreement about roles in a new venture. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 爸爸，你说了暑假带我去北京，要**一言为定**哦！ +
-    * Pinyin: Bàba, nǐ shuō le shǔjià dài wǒ qù Běijīng, yào **yī yán wéi dìng** o! +
-    * English: Dad, you said you'd take me to Beijing for summer vacation, you have to promise! +
-    * Analysis: A child might say this to a parent, showing that even kids understand the phrase means a promise that can't be broken. The "哦 (o)" particle softens the tone. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 明天早上七点，公司门口见，不见不散，**一言为定**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Míngtiān zǎoshang qī diǎn, gōngsī ménkǒu jiàn, bùjiàn bú sàn, **yī yán wéi dìng**. +
-    * Pinyin: See you at the company entrance at 7 AM tomorrow, we won't leave until we see each other, it's a deal. +
-    * Analysis: Here, it's combined with another common phrase, [[不见不散]] (bùjiàn bú sàn), to doubly emphasize the commitment. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * A: 如果我帮你完成这个项目，你得请我吃大餐。(Rúguǒ wǒ bāng nǐ wánchéng zhège xiàngmù, nǐ děi qǐng wǒ chī dàcān.) - If I help you finish this project, you have to treat me to a big meal. +
-    * B: 没问题，**一言为定**！(Méi wèntí, **yī yán wéi dìng**!) - No problem, it's a deal! +
-    * Analysis: This shows a common friendly bargain. The promise of the meal is now sealed. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 只要你戒烟，我就把车借给你。**一言为定**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ jièyān, wǒ jiù bǎ chē jiè gěi nǐ. **Yī yán wéi dìng**. +
-    * English: As long as you quit smoking, I'll lend you my car. A promise is a promise. +
-    * Analysis: The phrase is used here to set a serious condition for a promise. The speaker is emphasizing their own commitment if the other person holds up their end of the bargain. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 从今天起，我们互相监督学习，**一言为定**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Cóng jīntiān qǐ, wǒmen hùxiāng jiāndū xuéxí, **yī yán wéi dìng**. +
-    * English: Starting today, we'll supervise each other's studies. That's settled. +
-    * Analysis: Perfect for making a pact or a New Year's resolution with a friend. It formalizes the mutual commitment. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 王总，合作细节我们都谈好了，那就这么**一言为定**了？ +
-    * Pinyin: Wáng zǒng, hézuò xìjié wǒmen dōu tán hǎo le, nà jiù zhème **yī yán wéi dìng** le? +
-    * English: Director Wang, we've discussed all the details of the cooperation, so shall we consider it settled then? +
-    * Analysis: A polite and professional way to seek final verbal confirmation in a business meeting before drafting the official contract. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Don't Use It for Trivial Things:** **一言为定** implies a significant commitment. Using it for a minor request, like "Can you pass the salt?" would sound strange and overly dramatic. It's stronger than a simple "Okay" or "Sure." +
-  * **It's a Social Bond, Not a Legal One:** While culturally powerful, **一言为定** is not a substitute for a legal [[合同]] (hétong, contract) in major business or financial transactions. Think of it as a seal of good faith, not a legally enforceable statement. The mistake is to rely on it //instead// of a contract when a contract is truly needed. +
-  * **It's Not Just "Deal":** The English word "Deal" can sometimes be used very casually. **一言为定** is never casual in its meaning. It always means the matter is serious and the promise is firm. After you say **一言为定**, trying to change the plan or back out would be considered poor form and could damage your relationship with the other person. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[说定了]] (shuō dìng le) - A more common and slightly less formal way to say "It's decided" or "We've agreed." It's the everyday version of **一言为定**. +
-  * [[一诺千金]] (yī nuò qiān jīn) - "A single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold." This idiom doesn't seal a deal but describes the //value// of a promise, sharing the same cultural emphasis on trustworthiness. +
-  * [[君子一言，驷马难追]] (jūnzǐ yī yán, sì mǎ nán zhuī) - "A gentleman's single word cannot be chased down by a four-horse chariot." A very formal and powerful idiom emphasizing the permanence and integrity of a promise made by an honorable person. +
-  * [[成交]] (chéngjiāo) - "To close a deal." This term is more transactional and is used almost exclusively in business or sales contexts. +
-  * [[说好了]] (shuō hǎo le) - "We've agreed." Very similar to [[说定了]], this is a common, informal way to confirm an arrangement. +
-  * [[信守诺言]] (xìnshǒu nuòyán) - "To keep one's promise." A verb phrase describing the action of honoring a commitment, which is the spirit behind **一言为定**. +
-  * [[拉钩]] (lāgōu) - "To do a pinky swear." This is the children's version of making a solemn promise, often accompanied by a rhyming chant. It's the physical act that mirrors the verbal commitment of **一言为定**.+