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| 诺言 [2025/08/10 10:35] – created xiaoer | 诺言 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== nuòyán: 诺言 - Promise, Commitment, One's Word ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** nuoyan, 诺言, Chinese for promise, Chinese commitment, make a promise in Chinese, keep a promise, Chinese word for vow, Chinese culture, honor, trust, HSK 5 | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the deep meaning of **诺言 (nuòyán)**, the Chinese word for a serious promise or commitment. This page explores its cultural significance tied to honor and trust, how to use it in conversation, and how it differs from a casual English "promise." Discover related terms and see practical examples to understand why a **诺言** is a cornerstone of relationships and integrity in China. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** nuòyán | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A promise; a commitment that has been verbally given. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **诺言 (nuòyán)** is not just a simple "promise"; it's a word imbued with weight, seriousness, and personal honor. Think of it as a formal declaration of one's word, a bond that is expected to be kept. While an English "promise" can be casual, a **诺言** is almost always significant and tied to a person's integrity. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **诺 (nuò):** This character means "to promise" or "to agree." It's composed of the speech radical **言 (yán)** on the left and **若 (ruò)** on the right. The left side tells you it's related to speech, while the right side primarily provides the phonetic sound. Essentially, it's a specific kind of "speech" – one of agreement and commitment. | |
| * **言 (yán):** This character means "word," "speech," or "to say." It's a pictograph that originally depicted a mouth with a tongue, representing the act of speaking. | |
| When combined, **诺言 (nuòyán)** literally translates to "promise-words" or "speech of commitment." This structure makes its meaning very clear: words that form a solemn promise. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, a **诺言 (nuòyán)** is deeply connected to the concepts of trust **(信任, xìnrèn)**, credibility **(信用, xìnyòng)**, and personal honor or "face" **(面子, miànzi)**. The famous idiom **一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn)**, meaning "a single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold," perfectly captures this sentiment. | |
| This is a key difference from the often casual use of "promise" in Western cultures. You might casually say, "I promise I'll text you later," without much consequence if you forget. However, giving a **诺言** in Chinese implies a much heavier responsibility. Breaking it is not just a simple failure to act; it is a moral failing that can damage one's reputation and relationships. This value is rooted in Confucian ideals that emphasize integrity and trustworthiness as foundational virtues for a harmonious society. | |
| Therefore, making a **诺言** is a deliberate act. People are careful about giving their **诺言** and expect others to treat theirs with the utmost seriousness. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **诺言 (nuòyán)** is a noun and is used in contexts where the commitment is significant. It's often paired with specific verbs: | |
| * **许下诺言 (xǔxià nuòyán):** To make a promise. (Formal/Literary) | |
| * **遵守诺言 (zūnshǒu nuòyán):** To keep/abide by a promise. | |
| * **履行诺言 (lǚxíng nuòyán):** To fulfill/carry out a promise. (Slightly more formal, like fulfilling a duty) | |
| * **违背诺言 (wéibèi nuòyán):** To break/violate a promise. | |
| * **实现诺言 (shíxiàn nuòyán):** To realize/make a promise come true. | |
| While it can be used in personal relationships (e.g., between lovers or close friends), it carries a formal, almost poetic tone. In business or casual daily arrangements, a verb like **保证 (bǎozhèng, to guarantee)** or **答应 (dāying, to agree/promise)** is often more appropriate. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他向我许下了一个永不离开我的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā xiàng wǒ xǔxià le yí ge yǒng bù líkāi wǒ de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: He made a promise to me that he would never leave me. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows the classic structure **许下诺言 (xǔxià nuòyán)**, "to make a promise." The context is romantic and serious, making **诺言** the perfect word choice. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 一个真正的朋友会遵守自己的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yí ge zhēnzhèng de péngyǒu huì zūnshǒu zìjǐ de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: A true friend will keep their promises. | |
| * Analysis: **遵守诺言 (zūnshǒu nuòyán)** means "to abide by a promise." This example frames promise-keeping as a key quality of a good friend, highlighting the cultural value placed on it. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 你不能轻易违背你对孩子的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ bù néng qīngyì wéibèi nǐ duì háizi de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: You can't easily break the promise you made to your child. | |
| * Analysis: **违背诺言 (wéibèi nuòyán)** is the common way to say "to break a promise." The adverb **轻易 (qīngyì)**, "easily," reinforces that breaking a promise should not be a light matter. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 这是一个沉重的**诺言**，我不知道我是否能做到。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge chénzhòng de **nuòyán**, wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ shìfǒu néng zuòdào. | |
| * English: This is a heavy promise; I don't know if I can fulfill it. | |
| * Analysis: The adjective **沉重 (chénzhòng)**, "heavy," is often used to describe a **诺言**, emphasizing its weight and the responsibility it entails. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他用行动履行了自己的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā yòng xíngdòng lǚxíng le zìjǐ de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: He fulfilled his promise with actions. | |
| * Analysis: **履行诺言 (lǚxíng nuòyán)** means "to fulfill a promise." It has a slightly more formal feel than **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** and emphasizes carrying out the promise like a duty. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 对她来说，一个**诺言**就是一份责任。 | |
| * Pinyin: Duì tā lái shuō, yí ge **nuòyán** jiùshì yí fèn zérèn. | |
| * English: To her, a promise is a responsibility. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence directly links **诺言** to **责任 (zérèn)**, "responsibility," which is the core cultural understanding of the term. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 请相信我，这不是一个空洞的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Qǐng xiāngxìn wǒ, zhè bú shì yí ge kōngdòng de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: Please believe me, this is not an empty promise. | |
| * Analysis: The adjective **空洞 (kōngdòng)**, "empty/hollow," is the perfect antonym to the ideal of a sincere, weighty **诺言**. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 政府向人民做出了改善生活的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ xiàng rénmín zuòchū le gǎishàn shēnghuó de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: The government made a promise to the people to improve their lives. | |
| * Analysis: **诺言** can also be used in a political context for solemn, public commitments. Here, **做出诺言 (zuòchū nuòyán)** is another way to say "make a promise." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 他后悔当初许下了那个无法实现的**诺言**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā hòuhuǐ dāngchū xǔxià le nàge wúfǎ shíxiàn de **nuòyán**. | |
| * English: He regrets making that promise that was impossible to fulfill. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the negative consequences of making a promise one can't keep. **无法实现 (wúfǎ shíxiàn)** means "unable to realize/fulfill." | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 记住你的**诺言**，一诺千金。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jìzhù nǐ de **nuòyán**, yī nuò qiān jīn. | |
| * English: Remember your promise; a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence pairs the word directly with the idiom that best defines its cultural meaning, **一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn)**. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **Don't use 诺言 for casual promises:** This is the most common mistake for English speakers. If you want to say "I promise I'll call you" or "I promise I won't be late," it's much more natural to use the verb **我保证 (wǒ bǎozhèng - I guarantee)** or **我答应你 (wǒ dāying nǐ - I promise you/I agree)**. Using **诺言** would sound overly dramatic and strange. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我给你一个**诺言**，我五分钟后到。(Wǒ gěi nǐ yí ge nuòyán, wǒ wǔ fēnzhōng hòu dào.) | |
| * **Correct:** 我**保证**五分钟后到。(Wǒ **bǎozhèng** wǔ fēnzhōng hòu dào.) | |
| * **诺言 (nuòyán) vs. 承诺 (chéngnuò):** These are very similar, but with a key difference. | |
| * **诺言 (nuòyán)** is **only a noun**. It often feels more personal, emotional, or even literary. | |
| * **承诺 (chéngnuò)** can be **both a noun and a verb**. It is frequently used in more formal, legal, or business contexts to mean "commitment" or "to commit to." For example, a company makes a **承诺** to its customers. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[承诺]] (chéngnuò) - A commitment or promise; also a verb "to promise." Often used in formal or business contexts. | |
| * [[保证]] (bǎozhèng) - To guarantee; a guarantee. Used for assuring someone of something, often more practical and less poetic than **诺言**. | |
| * [[答应]] (dāying) - To agree; to promise. A very common and less formal verb for everyday agreements. | |
| * [[誓言]] (shìyán) - An oath or a vow. Even more solemn and formal than a **诺言**, often made during a ceremony (e.g., wedding vows, an oath of allegiance). | |
| * [[约定]] (yuēdìng) - An agreement, appointment, or pact. It implies a mutual arrangement rather than a one-sided promise based on honor. | |
| * [[一诺千金]] (yī nuò qiān jīn) - An idiom: "one promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold." It perfectly describes the cultural weight of a **诺言**. | |
| * [[食言]] (shíyán) - "To eat one's words." A verb meaning to break a promise. (e.g., 你不能**食言** - nǐ bù néng shíyán - You can't go back on your word). | |
| * [[遵守]] (zūnshǒu) - To abide by, to keep (a promise, a rule). A key verb used with **诺言**. | |
| * [[违背]] (wéibèi) - To violate, to go against (a promise, one's conscience). The primary verb for breaking a **诺言**. | |