yánxíngyīzhì: 言行一致 - To Practice What You Preach; Words and Actions are Consistent

• Keywords: yanxingyizhi, 言行一致, practice what you preach, walk the talk, words and actions match, Chinese integrity, Chinese values, consistency, be a person of your word, reliable, trustworthy, HSK 6
• Summary: The Chinese idiom 言行一致 (yánxíngyīzhì) describes the core virtue of ensuring your actions align perfectly with your words. More than just honesty, it means to “practice what you preach” or “walk the talk,” signifying a person of high integrity, reliability, and trustworthiness. Understanding 言行一致 is key to grasping the Chinese cultural emphasis on dependability and character in personal relationships, business, and leadership.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yán xíng yī zhì
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); can function as an adjective or predicate.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: One's speech and actions are one and the same; to be consistent.
• In a Nutshell: 言行一致 is a powerful compliment in Chinese culture. It describes a person whose behavior is a direct reflection of what they say and the principles they claim to hold. It's the opposite of hypocrisy. If a person is described as 言行一致, it means they are dependable, have strong moral character, and are worthy of deep trust.

• 言 (yán): Speech, words, to say. The radical 讠is often called the “speech radical.”
• 行 (xíng): Actions, conduct, behavior, to walk, to do. It represents movement and carrying things out.
• 一 (yī): One, single, unified.
• 致 (zhì): To match, to be consistent with, to result in.

These characters combine literally to mean “speech [and] actions [are] one match” or “words and conduct are unified.” The phrase paints a clear picture of two separate things—what you say and what you do—being brought together into a single, consistent whole.

言行一致 is a cornerstone of Confucian ethics and a deeply respected virtue in Chinese society. It is a defining characteristic of the 君子 (jūnzǐ), the Confucian ideal of a “gentleman” or “noble person.” A jūnzǐ is not just knowledgeable, but morally cultivated, and a primary sign of this cultivation is the harmony between their words and deeds. To an English speaker, the closest concepts are “to practice what you preach” or “to walk the talk.” However, there's a subtle but important cultural difference.

• In Western Culture: “Practicing what you preach” is primarily about avoiding hypocrisy. Someone who fails to do so is often seen as a hypocrite, which is negative, but might not invalidate all their other qualities.
• In Chinese Culture: 言行一致 is a more foundational, positive virtue tied directly to one's social standing, trustworthiness (信用 xìnyòng), and “face” (面子 miànzi). Lacking this quality is not just being a hypocrite; it's a fundamental character flaw that makes you an unreliable and untrustworthy person in all domains of life—from business deals to personal friendships. It suggests a lack of inner sincerity and moral discipline.

Therefore, praising someone as 言行一致 is one of the highest compliments you can pay to their character.

This term is formal and carries significant weight. It is used in situations where character and reliability are being seriously evaluated.

• In Business and the Workplace: It's used to describe a trustworthy leader, a reliable partner, or an ideal employee. A leader who is 言行一致 commands genuine respect and loyalty. A company that upholds this principle is seen as a stable and dependable partner.
• In Personal Relationships: It's a key quality sought in friends and romantic partners. It describes someone who is dependable and whose promises can be believed without question. Parents also strive to be 言行一致 to set a good example for their children.
• In Politics and Official Discourse: The term is frequently used in government speeches and official media to describe the ideal conduct of officials or to assert the government's commitment to its promises.

The connotation is overwhelmingly positive. Its opposite, 言行不一 (yán xíng bù yī), is a strong criticism.

• Example 1:
  • 他是一位言行一致的领导，我们都非常信任他。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yī wèi yánxíngyīzhì de lǐngdǎo, wǒmen dōu fēicháng xìnrèn tā.
  • English: He is a leader who practices what he preaches, so we all trust him very much.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using 言行一致 to praise someone's character in a professional context. It links the quality directly to the result: trust.
• Example 2:
  • 做一个言行一致的人是我的目标。
  • Pinyin: Zuò yī gè yánxíngyīzhì de rén shì wǒ de mùbiāo.
  • English: To be a person whose actions match their words is my goal.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used as a personal aspiration, highlighting its role as a moral standard.
• Example 3:
  • 我们只和言行一致的公司合作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhǐ hé yánxíngyīzhì de gōngsī hézuò.
  • English: We only cooperate with companies that are true to their word.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its importance in business, where reliability and follow-through are paramount.
• Example 4:
  • 作为一名教师，你必须做到言行一致，给学生树立一个好榜样。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng jiàoshī, nǐ bìxū zuòdào yánxíngyīzhì, gěi xuéshēng shùlì yī gè hǎo bǎngyàng.
  • English: As a teacher, you must practice what you preach and set a good example for your students.
  • Analysis: This highlights the social responsibility associated with the term, especially for those in positions of influence.
• Example 5:
  • 言行一致是一种非常重要的品德。
  • Pinyin: Yánxíngyīzhì shì yī zhǒng fēicháng zhòngyào de pǐndé.
  • English: Consistency between words and actions is a very important virtue.
  • Analysis: This sentence defines the term itself as a 品德 (pǐndé), or moral quality.
• Example 6:
  • 他这个人言行不一，你最好别相信他。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén yánxíngbùyī, nǐ zuìhǎo bié xiāngxìn tā.
  • English: This person's words and actions don't match; you'd better not believe him.
  • Analysis: This uses the direct antonym, 言行不一 (yánxíngbùyī), to issue a strong warning about someone's character.
• Example 7:
  • 父母的言行一致对孩子的成长至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ de yánxíngyīzhì duì háizi de chéngzhǎng zhìguānzhòngyào.
  • English: A parent's ability to practice what they preach is crucial for a child's development.
  • Analysis: This shows how the concept is applied in the context of family values and parenting.
• Example 8:
  • 政府承诺要改善民生，全国人民都希望他们能言行一致。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chéngnuò yào gǎishàn mínshēng, quánguó rénmín dōu xīwàng tāmen néng yánxíngyīzhì.
  • English: The government has promised to improve people's livelihoods; the whole country hopes they can match their actions to their words.
  • Analysis: A common usage in a political context, expressing the public's desire for accountability from authorities.
• Example 9:
  • 评价一个人，不仅要听他怎么说，更要看他是否言行一致。
  • Pinyin: Píngjià yī gè rén, bùjǐn yào tīng tā zěnme shuō, gèng yào kàn tā shìfǒu yánxíngyīzhì.
  • English: When evaluating a person, you must not only listen to what they say, but more importantly, see if their words and actions are consistent.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly summarizes the philosophy behind the idiom: actions are the ultimate test of words.
• Example 10:
  • 他总是说到做到，真是个言行一致的好青年。
  • Pinyin: Tā zǒngshì shuōdàozuòdào, zhēnshì ge yánxíngyīzhì de hǎo qīngnián.
  • English: He always does what he says he'll do, he's truly a fine young man who practices what he preaches.
  • Analysis: This example combines the more colloquial 说到做到 (shuōdàozuòdào) with the more formal 言行一致, showing how they can be used together to emphasize a point.

• False Friend: Not just “Honesty”
  • A common mistake for learners is to equate 言行一致 with `诚实 (chéngshí)`, or “honesty.” They are related but different. A person can be honest about their inability to do something (`诚实地告诉你，我做不到` - “To be honest, I can't do it”). 言行一致, however, is about the *follow-through*. It’s about the alignment of promise and action. One is about truthful speech, the other about reliable action.
• It Describes Character, Not a Single Action
  • 言行一致 is used to describe a person's general character or a long-standing principle, not a single, isolated event.
  • Incorrect: 他说他五点到，结果五点就到了。他真言行一致。 (He said he'd arrive at 5, and he arrived at 5. He's so `yánxíngyīzhì`.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is awkward. For a single event, you would use a more specific word like `守时 (shǒushí)` for “punctual.”
  • Correct: 他这个人总是言行一致，说五点到就一定会五点到。(He is a person who always practices what he preaches; if he says he'll arrive at 5, he will definitely arrive at 5.) This shows it's a consistent pattern of behavior.

• 言行不一 (yán xíng bù yī) - The direct antonym. “Words and actions do not match”; describes a hypocrite.
• 说一套做一套 (shuō yī tào zuò yī tào) - “To say one thing and do another.” A very common and slightly more colloquial way to express the idea of `言行不一`.
• 表里如一 (biǎo lǐ rú yī) - “The outside and inside are like one.” A close synonym that emphasizes the consistency between one's inner thoughts/feelings and outer expression/actions.
• 说到做到 (shuō dào zuò dào) - “To do what one says.” A more modern, slightly less formal, and very common phrase that is almost a direct equivalent in everyday speech.
• 君子 (jūnzǐ) - The Confucian ideal of a “noble person” or “gentleman,” for whom `言行一致` is an essential characteristic.
• 信用 (xìnyòng) - “Trustworthiness” or “credit.” A person who is `言行一致` has good `信用`.
• 诚实 (chéngshí) - “Honesty.” Related but distinct. `诚实` is about speaking truthfully, while `言行一致` is about acting in accordance with one's words.
• 一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn) - “A single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.” An idiom that stresses the immense value of a promise, a core belief for someone who is `言行一致`.