san1 tai2 lik6 hang4身體力行身体力行
Jyutpingsan1 tai2 lik6 hang4
Yalesān tái lihk hàhng
Definition
To practice what one preaches; to walk the talk by personally putting one's beliefs or ideas into action.
neutralpeoplework
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of moral integrity and leadership. It is typically used to praise someone who does not just give orders or advice from a distance but actively participates in the work to show others how it should be done. It is often employed in professional or educational settings to highlight the importance of leading by example.
Examples
He always talks about environmental protection and even walks the talk by picking up trash.
As a teacher, shouldn't you set an example by practicing what you preach?
Related words
Common phrases
to practice what one preaches through action
to set an example by walking the talk
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb meaning to work hard, but it specifically requires the element of alignment between one's words or principles and one's actual actions. Using it to describe someone just doing manual labor is incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
