诺言

• Pinyin: nuò yán
• Hanzi breakdown: 诺 = 讠 (speech radical) + 若 (phonetic, meaning 'as if/like') — to speak one's agreement; 言 = pictograph of a tongue above a mouth — speech, words

Meaning

A promise; a pledge; a vow made to another person.

A more formal and literary synonym for 承诺. Used in earnest or serious contexts — political pledges, personal vows, historical promises. 兑现诺言 (to fulfil a promise) and 违背诺言 (to break a promise) are common collocations. Carries weight and moral significance.

Examples

1. 他向父亲许下的诺言从未兑现，这份愧疚在他心中沉积多年，始终无法释怀。 He never kept the promise he made to his father, and the guilt has sat in his heart for years, something he still can't let go of.
2. 政府必须切实兑现当初向选民作出的诺言，否则将面临严重的公信力危机。 The government must truly deliver on the promises it made to voters, or it will face a serious crisis of credibility.
3. 两国领导人在峰会上相互作出了一系列重要诺言，为双边关系的深入发展奠定了坚实基础。 At the summit, the leaders of the two countries made a series of important pledges to each other, laying a solid foundation for deeper bilateral ties.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, personal relationships, ethics, history

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 一个人的价值很大程度上体现在他能否坚守自己的诺言，在困难面前选择兑现承诺，而非寻找借口推脱，是衡量一个人品格的重要标准。(A person's worth is largely reflected in whether they can keep their promises — choosing to honour one's commitments in the face of difficulty, rather than finding excuses to back out, is an important measure of character.)
• 这位历史人物以一诺千金著称，他所许下的每一个诺言都被视为不可动摇的契约，这种操守赢得了各方的高度尊重与信任。(This historical figure was renowned for being as good as his word — every promise he made was regarded as an unshakeable contract, and this integrity won him the highest respect and trust from all sides.)

Don't Say

• 将'诺言'用于轻率的日常小事，如'我向你许个诺言，今晚请你吃饭' — 诺言 carries significant moral weight; for casual promises or invitations, use 答应 or 保证 instead

Origin & History

诺 = 讠 (speech) + 若 (like/as) — to affirm with words; 言 = 口 (mouth) + 三横 — words spoken aloud; together: words of affirmation/promise

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal