nuòyán: 诺言 - Promise, Commitment, One's Word

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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).

• 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.

• 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.