出尔反尔

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出尔反尔 [2025/08/10 10:47] – created xiaoer出尔反尔 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== chū ěr fǎn ěr: 出尔反尔 - To Go Back on One's Word, To Be Fickle ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** chuerfaner, chū ěr fǎn ěr, 出尔反尔 meaning, Chinese idiom for breaking a promise, fickle, go back on one's word Chinese, inconsistent, unreliable, contradictory, chengyu, Chinese for untrustworthy +
-  * **Summary:** "出尔反尔" (chū ěr fǎn ěr) is a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to criticize someone for being unreliable, inconsistent, and going back on their word. It describes a person who breaks promises or contradicts their previous statements, implying a serious lack of integrity. Understanding this term is key to grasping the high value placed on trustworthiness in Chinese culture, as being accused of "chū ěr fǎn ěr" is a significant social critique. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chū ěr fǎn ěr +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (idiom), Verb Phrase +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 (Advanced) +
-  * **Concise Definition:** To contradict oneself or go back on one's word. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine someone firmly promises you one thing on Monday, but on Tuesday, they do the exact opposite without a good reason. That frustrating and untrustworthy behavior is "出尔反尔". It's not just about changing your mind; it's about breaking a commitment or being hypocritical. It carries a strong negative connotation and questions a person's character and integrity. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **出 (chū):** To go out; to issue from. +
-  * **尔 (ěr):** An archaic word for "you" or "your." +
-  * **反 (fǎn):** To return; to reverse; to go against. +
-  * **尔 (ěr):** You; your. +
-This idiom has a fascinating origin story that has flipped in meaning over time. It comes from the classic text //Mencius// (《孟子》). The original phrase was "出乎尔者，反乎尔者也" (chū hū ěr zhě, fǎn hū ěr zhě yě), which meant, "Whatever comes from you will return to you." It was a lesson about karma—if you treat others well, you will be treated well in return. +
-However, the modern usage of **出尔反尔** has lost this original meaning. Today, it describes how a person's words "go out" (出) from "you" (尔), but are later "reversed" or "returned against" (反) by "you" (尔) yourself. It now signifies self-contradiction and breaking a promise. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-In Chinese culture, trustworthiness and keeping one's word (守信, shǒuxìn) are paramount virtues. A person's word is seen as a reflection of their honor and character. To **出尔反尔** is to commit a serious social foul, causing one to lose "face" ([[面子]], miànzi) and be deemed unreliable. +
-A useful Western comparison is the phrase "to change one's mind." While they can overlap, their cultural weight is very different. +
-  * **Changing one's mind:** This can be neutral or even positive in the West. It might imply flexibility, adaptability, or that you've received new information that led to a better decision. +
-  * **出尔反尔 (chū ěr fǎn ěr):** This is almost exclusively negative and judgmental. It implies a moral failing, not intellectual flexibility. It suggests the person is either forgetful, deceitful, or simply doesn't care about their commitments. +
-Accusing someone of **出尔反尔** is a direct challenge to their integrity (信用, xìnyòng). It’s not a light-hearted comment; it's a way of saying, "Your words mean nothing, and I can no longer trust you." +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-This idiom is common in situations where a commitment has been broken. +
-  * **Business:** This is frequently used in business negotiations. If a company agrees to a price and then tries to change it later, their partner might accuse them of being **出尔反尔**. It's a serious claim that can damage a business relationship. +
-  * **Personal Relationships:** In arguments between friends, family, or partners, it's used to call out broken promises. For example, "You promised you'd be there, how can you be so **出尔反尔**?" +
-  * **Politics and Media:** It's often used to criticize politicians or public figures who change their stance on an issue or fail to deliver on campaign promises. +
-The connotation is always negative and accusatory. It is a formal idiom but is used in both formal writing and heated informal conversations. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 他在生意上总是**出尔反尔**，所以没什么人愿意跟他合作。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā zài shēngyì shàng zǒngshì **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr**, suǒyǐ méishénme rén yuànyì gēn tā hézuò. +
-    * English: He always goes back on his word in business, so not many people are willing to cooperate with him. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence describes a person's general character flaw in a professional context, explaining the negative consequences. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 你昨天答应了帮我，今天又变卦，你这个人怎么能**出尔反尔**呢？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ zuótiān dāyìng le bāng wǒ, jīntiān yòu biànguà, nǐ zhè ge rén zěnme néng **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr** ne? +
-    * English: You promised to help me yesterday, and today you've changed your mind. How can you be so fickle? +
-    * Analysis: A direct, emotional accusation in a personal setting. The rhetorical question "怎么能...呢？" (zěnme néng...ne?) enhances the tone of frustration. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 一个负责任的政府不应该在政策上**出尔反尔**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Yí ge fùzérèn de zhèngfǔ bù yīnggāi zài zhèngcè shàng **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr**. +
-    * English: A responsible government should not be inconsistent with its policies. +
-    * Analysis: A formal statement about how an institution should behave. It highlights the expectation of consistency and reliability. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 我们已经签了合同，希望贵公司不要**出尔反尔**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen yǐjīng qiān le hétong, xīwàng guì gōngsī búyào **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr**. +
-    * English: We have already signed the contract; we hope your esteemed company will not go back on the agreement. +
-    * Analysis: A polite but firm warning in a business context. "贵公司" (guì gōngsī) is a respectful term, but the message is a clear expectation of adherence to the contract. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 他**出尔反尔**的行为让所有人都对他失去了信任。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr** de xíngwéi ràng suǒyǒu rén dōu duì tā shīqù le xìnrèn. +
-    * English: His fickle behavior made everyone lose trust in him. +
-    * Analysis: Here, "出尔反尔" is used as an adjective to describe "行为" (xíngwéi, behavior). +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 做人要讲信用，不能**出尔反尔**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zuòrén yào jiǎng xìnyòng, bùnéng **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr**. +
-    * English: To be a good person, you must have integrity and cannot go back on your word. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence states a core cultural value. "做人" (zuòrén) refers to conducting oneself and behaving as a person in society. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 他一会儿说东，一会儿说西，真是**出尔反尔**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā yíhuìr shuō dōng, yíhuìr shuō xī, zhēnshi **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr**. +
-    * English: One moment he says east, the next he says west; he's truly inconsistent. +
-    * Analysis: A classic example of describing someone's contradictory statements. The phrase "一会儿...一会儿..." (yíhuìr...yíhuìr...) perfectly sets up the use of "出尔反尔". +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 在这么重要的事情上，你可千万不能**出尔反尔**啊！ +
-    * Pinyin: Zài zhème zhòngyào de shìqing shàng, nǐ kě qiānwàn bùnéng **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr** a! +
-    * English: On such an important matter, you absolutely must not go back on your word! +
-    * Analysis: A strong plea or warning to someone. "可千万" (kě qiānwàn) emphasizes the urgency and seriousness of the request. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 那家公司在付款条件上**出尔反尔**，我们决定取消订单。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nà jiā gōngsī zài fùkuǎn tiáojiàn shàng **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr**, wǒmen juédìng qǔxiāo dìngdān. +
-    * English: That company was inconsistent regarding the payment terms, so we decided to cancel the order. +
-    * Analysis: A clear cause-and-effect sentence in a business scenario, where the fickle behavior leads to a direct consequence. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 我最讨厌**出尔反尔**的人。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn **chū'ěrfǎn'ěr** de rén. +
-    * English: I most despise people who go back on their word. +
-    * Analysis: A simple, direct statement of personal values. "出尔反尔" functions as an adjective modifying "人" (rén, person). +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Don't confuse it with simple indecision.** A common mistake is to use **出尔反尔** for someone who is just hesitant or can't make up their mind. For that, you should use [[犹豫]] (yóuyù - to hesitate). **出尔反尔** applies *after* a promise or a clear statement has been made and then broken. +
-    * **Incorrect:** 他很**出尔反尔**，不知道该点什么菜。(He is very **fickle**, he doesn't know what dish to order.) +
-    * **Correct:** 他很**犹豫**，不知道该点什么菜。(He is very **hesitant**, he doesn't know what dish to order.) +
-  * **Be aware of its strong negative force.** Calling someone **出尔反尔** is a serious accusation. In a friendly context, it can sound overly harsh. For a lighter, more colloquial way of saying someone broke a promise, you could use [[说话不算数]] (shuōhuà bù suànshù - one's words don't count). Using this chengyu can escalate a disagreement. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * **[[言而无信]] (yán ér wú xìn):** A very close synonym. It means "to speak but have no credibility/trustworthiness." Both refer to breaking promises. +
-  * **[[说话不算数]] (shuōhuà bù suànshù):** A more colloquial and less formal way to say the same thing. Literally "speaking doesn't count." +
-  * **[[反复无常]] (fǎnfù wúcháng):** A synonym meaning "capricious, erratic, changeable." It emphasizes unpredictable changes in mood or behavior, while **出尔反尔** focuses more on breaking specific promises or statements. +
-  * **[[自相矛盾]] (zì xiāng máodùn):** "To be self-contradictory." This is more about a logical flaw in someone's argument or statement, whereas **出尔反尔** is about a moral flaw in their commitment. +
-  * **[[食言]] (shíyán):** A verb meaning "to break a promise," literally "to eat one's words." It's often used in the phrase "食言而肥" (shí yán ér féi - to get fat from eating one's words), a humorous way to criticize someone for breaking promises. +
-  * **[[一言为定]] (yì yán wéi dìng):** An antonym. "One word and it's settled." Used to seal a verbal agreement, showing commitment. +
-  * **[[一诺千金]] (yí nuò qiān jīn):** An antonym. "A single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold." Emphasizes the immense value of keeping one's word. +
-  * **[[信用]] (xìnyòng):** The core cultural concept of "trustworthiness" or "credit" that is violated by someone who is **出尔反尔**. +
-  * **[[守信]] (shǒuxìn):** The act of keeping one's promise; "to guard one's credibility." The opposite behavior of **出尔反尔**.+