jat1 jin4 gei3 ceot1 ，si3 maa5 naan4 zeoi1一言既出，駟馬難追一言既出，驷马难追

Jyutpingjat1 jin4 gei3 ceot1 ，si3 maa5 naan4 zeoi1

Yaleyāt yìhn gei chēut ，si máh nàahn jēui

Definition

Once a word is spoken, even a team of four horses cannot overtake it; a promise must be kept.

writtencommunicationother

How it's used

This idiom carries a heavy sense of personal integrity and social accountability. It is typically invoked when someone is hesitant to fulfill a commitment or is attempting to retract a statement. Using it signals that the speaker values consistency and expects the listener to treat their words as binding.

Examples

jat1一jin4言gei3既ceot1出，si3駟maa5馬naan4難zeoi1追，nei5你m4唔hou2好faan2反hau2口aa4呀。

A promise is a promise, don't go back on your word.

gei3既jin4然daap3答jing3應zo2咗，jat1一jin4言gei3既ceot1出，si3駟maa5馬naan4難zeoi1追，dim2點ho2可ji5以m4唔zou6做？

Since you promised, you must keep your word, how can you not do it?

Related words

synonymgong2 dak1 ceot1 zou6 dak1 dou3講得出做得到góng dāk chēut jouh dāk douantonymfaan2 hau2反口fán háu

Common phrases

gong2講dak1得ceot1出zou6做dak1得dou3到

to walk the talk

faan2反hau2口fuk1覆sit3舌

to go back on one's word repeatedly

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say okay, but it is actually quite formal and serious. It should not be used in lighthearted situations or when making trivial promises, as it sounds overly dramatic or stiff in those contexts.