有言実行

• Reading: ゆうげんじっこう
• Romaji: yuugen jikkou
• Kanji breakdown: 有 (yuu) — have, exist; 言 (gen) — word, speech; 実 (jitsu) — real, actual; 行 (kou) — do, carry out
• Pronunciation: /jɯː.ɡen.dʑik.koː/

Meaning

Doing what one says; being true to one's word; follow-through on stated intentions.

A yojijukugo (four-character idiom) that is the counterpart and positive inversion of 不言実行. While 不言実行 values quiet action without proclamation, 有言実行 emphasises the integrity of making a public commitment and then honouring it. Common in business, sports, and political contexts to describe people who consistently deliver on their promises.

Examples

1. 有言実行の姿勢で、彼は宣言した通り三ヶ月以内に目標を達成した。 True to his word, he achieved his goal within three months, just as he had declared.
2. 選手は試合前に優勝を宣言し、有言実行で金メダルを手にした。 The athlete announced before the match that he would win, and he followed through by taking the gold medal.
3. 有言実行こそがリーダーへの信頼を高める最大の要因だと信じている。 I believe that following through on what you say is the single greatest factor in building trust as a leader.

Usage Guide

Context: business, sports, leadership, personal values

Tone: admiring

Origin & History

A modern Japanese-coined yojijukugo, formed as a deliberate counterpart to 不言実行. 有言 means 'having said it / with words', 実行 means 'execution, practice' — together expressing the matching of declared words to subsequent actions.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal