君子一言,駟馬難追
See also: 君子一言,驷马难追
Chinese
junzi; man of virtue; high-minded person junzi; man of virtue; high-minded person; noble person; superior person | one sentence; something to say; brief remark | words cannot be taken back once they are spoken | |||
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trad. (君子一言,駟馬難追) | 君子 | 一言 | , | 駟馬難追 | |
simp. (君子一言,驷马难追) | 君子 | 一言 | , | 驷马难追 |
Etymology
Based on passages in the Analects:
- 子貢曰:「惜乎!夫子之說君子也。駟不及舌。……」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
- Zǐgòng yuē: “Xī hū! Fūzǐ zhī shuō jūnzǐ yě. Sì bùjí shé.......” [Pinyin]
- Zigong said: "How regrettable are your words about the superior person. A four-horse-team cannot overtake the tongue. [...]"
子贡曰:“惜乎!夫子之说君子也。驷不及舌。……” [Classical Chinese, simp.]- 子貢曰:「君子一言以為知,一言以為不知,言不可不慎也。……」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
- Zǐgòng yuē: “Jūnzǐ yīyán yǐwèi zhī, yīyán yǐwèi bùzhī, yán bùkě bùshèn yě.......” [Pinyin]
- Zigong said: "The superior person, by one word, is taken as wise, by one word is taken as unwise; one cannot afford to be careless with words. [...]"
子贡曰:“君子一言以为知,一言以为不知,言不可不慎也。……” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Proverb
君子一言,駟馬難追
- a gentleman must keep his promises
Related terms
- 一言既出,駟馬難追/一言既出,驷马难追 (yīyánjìchū, sìmǎnánzhuī)