yinuoqianjin: 一诺千金 - A Promise Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold

• Keywords: yinuoqianjin, yī nuò qiān jīn, 一诺千金, Chinese idiom for promise, keeping your word in Chinese, a promise worth a thousand gold, Chinese chengyu, trustworthiness, integrity in China, Chinese proverbs.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of the Chinese idiom (chengyu) 一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn), a phrase that translates to “a single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.” This entry explores why yinuoqianjin is more than just 'keeping your word'; it's a cornerstone of trustworthiness and integrity in Chinese culture. Learn how to use this powerful proverb in business and personal relationships, and understand its deep cultural significance for any learner of Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yī nuò qiān jīn
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Chinese idiom); can function as a predicate or adjective.
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced)
• Concise Definition: A promise is extremely valuable and must be kept.
• In a Nutshell: This phrase literally means “one promise, a thousand gold.” It paints a vivid picture: your word is as precious and heavy as a massive amount of gold. It's used to describe a person of immense integrity whose promises are absolutely dependable, or to make a solemn vow yourself. It carries a much stronger weight and formality than simply saying “I promise.”

• 一 (yī): The number “one” or “a single.”
• 诺 (nuò): To promise or to consent. This character is central to the concept of commitment.
• 千 (qiān): The number “one thousand.” It signifies a huge, almost uncountable amount.
• 金 (jīn): Gold, money, or precious metal. It represents ultimate material value.

These four characters combine to create a powerful metaphor: a single promise (一诺) is as valuable as a thousand pieces of gold (千金). The meaning is a direct and poetic reflection of its components.

The idiom 一诺千金 is deeply rooted in Chinese history and values. It originates from the story of Ji Bu (季布), a general during the early Han Dynasty (around 200 BC). He was so renowned for his unwavering integrity that a popular saying emerged: “To obtain a hundred catties of gold is not as good as obtaining a single promise from Ji Bu” (得黄金百斤，不如得季布一诺). This historical anecdote solidifies the idiom's meaning, tying it to a real-life paragon of virtue. This concept is directly linked to the core Confucian value of 信 (xìn), which translates to trustworthiness, faithfulness, and integrity. In Chinese culture, 信 (xìn) is not just a personal virtue but the foundation of all social, business, and personal relationships. A person who is considered 一诺千金 commands immense respect and is seen as a pillar of their community or organization. Compared to the Western phrase “one's word is one's bond,” 一诺千金 carries a different flavor. “One's word is one's bond” has a quasi-legal connotation, suggesting a promise is as binding as a contract. 一诺千金, on the other hand, emphasizes the intrinsic *value* and *honor* of the promise itself. It's less about a contractual obligation and more about a person's moral character being as precious as gold.

一诺千金 is a formal and impactful idiom. It's not used for trivial, everyday promises. Using it correctly demonstrates a high level of cultural and linguistic fluency.

• In Business: This is a powerful phrase in negotiations and client relations. A company might describe itself as 一诺千金 to assure a partner of its reliability. It signals that verbal agreements are taken as seriously as written contracts.
• In Personal Relationships: You can use it to praise someone's character, describing them as a person who is 一诺千金. You can also use it to make a very serious, heartfelt promise to someone, signaling the depth of your commitment.
• Formality: Highly formal. Reserve it for significant commitments. Promising to bring snacks to a party does not warrant 一诺千金; promising to help a friend through a major life crisis does.

• Example 1:
  • 他是个一诺千金的商人，你完全可以信任他。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge yī nuò qiān jīn de shāngrén, nǐ wánquán kěyǐ xìnrèn tā.
  • English: He is a businessman whose word is gold; you can completely trust him.
  • Analysis: Here, 一诺千金 acts as an adjective describing the businessman (商人). This is a high form of praise in a professional context.
• Example 2:
  • 我们公司对客户向来是一诺千金。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī duì kèhù xiànglái shì yī nuò qiān jīn.
  • English: Our company has always been one to keep its promises to clients.
  • Analysis: This is a strong statement of company values, assuring clients of reliability and integrity. `向来 (xiànglái)` means “always” or “traditionally.”
• Example 3:
  • 你放心，我既然答应了，就一定会做到，我可是一诺千金！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ fàngxīn, wǒ jìrán dāyìng le, jiù yīdìng huì zuòdào, wǒ kěshì yī nuò qiān jīn!
  • English: Don't worry, since I've agreed, I will definitely do it. I always keep my word!
  • Analysis: This is a very strong personal reassurance. The speaker uses 一诺千金 to emphasize the seriousness of their promise. `既然…就…` is a common structure meaning “since… then…”.
• Example 4:
  • 在这个时代，能做到一诺千金的人越来越少了。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè ge shídài, néng zuòdào yī nuò qiān jīn de rén yuèláiyuè shǎo le.
  • English: In this day and age, people who can truly keep a promise are becoming fewer and fewer.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom to comment on societal values. `做到 (zuòdào)` means “to achieve” or “to accomplish,” so `能做到一诺千金` means “to be able to live up to the standard of one's word being gold.”
• Example 5:
  • 真正的朋友，就应该一诺千金，而不是出尔反尔。
  • Pinyin: Zhēnzhèng de péngyou, jiù yīnggāi yī nuò qiān jīn, ér búshì chū ěr fǎn ěr.
  • English: True friends should be true to their word, not constantly go back on it.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts 一诺千金 with its antonym, `出尔反尔 (chū ěr fǎn ěr)`, which means “to be fickle” or “to break promises.”
• Example 6:
  • 他承诺的捐款迟迟未到，所谓一诺千金不过是空话。
  • Pinyin: Tā chéngnuò de juānkuǎn chíchí wèi dào, suǒwèi yī nuò qiān jīn bùguò shì kōnghuà.
  • English: The donation he promised has yet to arrive; his so-called “promise worth gold” was just empty talk.
  • Analysis: This example uses the idiom in a negative, cynical way to point out hypocrisy. `所谓 (suǒwèi)` means “so-called,” and `不过是空话 (bùguò shì kōnghuà)` means “is nothing but empty talk.”
• Example 7:
  • 我对你的承诺是一诺千金的，绝不会改变。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì nǐ de chéngnuò shì yī nuò qiān jīn de, jué bùhuì gǎibiàn.
  • English: My promise to you is as good as gold and will absolutely not change.
  • Analysis: A direct and powerful way to make a solemn vow to someone. The `的 (de)` at the end of the idiom helps it function adjectivally to describe the `承诺 (chéngnuò - promise)`.
• Example 8:
  • 领导的一诺千金让整个团队都充满了信心。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo de yī nuò qiān jīn ràng zhěnggè tuánduì dōu chōngmǎn le xìnxīn.
  • English: The leader's firm commitment filled the entire team with confidence.
  • Analysis: Here, 一诺千金 is used more like a noun, representing “the quality of being true to one's word” or “a firm commitment.”
• Example 9:
  • 古代的侠客最重信义，个个都是一诺千金的好汉。
  • Pinyin: Gǔdài de xiákè zuì zhòng xìnyì, gège dōu shì yī nuò qiān jīn de hǎohàn.
  • English: The knights-errant of ancient times valued trustworthiness the most; every one of them was a hero whose word was their bond.
  • Analysis: This connects the idiom to a romanticized cultural image, the `侠客 (xiákè)`, or wandering hero, for whom honor was everything.
• Example 10:
  • 这份合同就是我们一诺千金的证明。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn hétong jiùshì wǒmen yī nuò qiān jīn de zhèngmíng.
  • English: This contract is the proof of our firm commitment.
  • Analysis: This bridges the gap between a verbal promise and a written one, stating that the contract is a physical manifestation of their 一诺千金 principle.

• Mistake 1: Overuse in Casual Situations.
  • A very common error for learners is to use 一诺千金 for trivial promises. It sounds melodramatic and can even be perceived as insincere.
  • Incorrect: 我一诺千金，明天会帮你带咖啡。(Wǒ yī nuò qiān jīn, míngtiān huì bāng nǐ dài kāfēi.) - “My word is gold, I'll bring you coffee tomorrow.” This is far too strong.
  • Correct: 放心，我明天一定帮你带咖啡。(Fàngxīn, wǒ míngtiān yīdìng bāng nǐ dài kāfēi.) - “Don't worry, I'll definitely bring you coffee tomorrow.”
• False Friend: “I promise”
  • While related, 一诺千金 is not a direct substitute for the English phrase “I promise.” “I promise” is a verb phrase used to make a promise. 一诺千金 is an idiom used to *describe the quality* of a person or their promise. You state that you *are* 一诺千金 or that your promise *is* 一诺千金; you don't “do” 一诺千金.
  • To make a simple promise, use verbs like `保证 (bǎozhèng - to guarantee)` or `答应 (dāyìng - to agree/promise)`.

• 言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn): A direct synonym. It means “to be true to one's words; to be trustworthy.”
• 说一不二 (shuō yī bù èr): “To say one and not two.” Describes a person who is decisive and means what they say. Once they've said something, it's final. Closely related to reliability.
• 信守承诺 (xìn shǒu chéng nuò): A verb phrase meaning “to faithfully keep one's promises/commitments.” This is the action that a 一诺千金 person takes.
• 食言 (shí yán): An antonym. Literally “to eat one's words,” it means to break a promise. Someone who `食言` is the opposite of 一诺千金.
• 出尔反尔 (chū ěr fǎn ěr): A strong antonym. Describes someone who is fickle, goes back on their word, and is generally unreliable and untrustworthy.
• 保证 (bǎo zhèng): The common verb “to guarantee” or “to promise.” It is the everyday equivalent for making a commitment, lacking the formality and weight of 一诺千金.
• 信用 (xìn yòng): The noun for “credit,” “credibility,” or “trustworthiness.” A person who is 一诺千金 has very high `信用`.
• 季布一诺 (jì bù yī nuò): “The promise of Ji Bu.” A more literary way to refer to the concept, directly referencing the historical origin story.