sik6 jin4食言

Jyutpingsik6 jin4

Yalesihk yìhn

動詞

Definition

To break one's promise; to go back on one's word.

colloquialpeoplecommunication

How it's used

Carries a formal and slightly literary tone despite being used in daily speech. It is often used to criticize someone for failing to uphold a commitment, implying a lack of personal integrity or reliability. In casual conversation, people might prefer more direct phrases like 唔守信用 or 冇口齒.

Examples

nei5你gong2講hou2好zo2咗㗎，gaa4唔m4好hou2食sik6言jin4呀。

You already promised, don't break your word.

keoi5佢ci3次ci3次dou1都sik6食jin4言，zan1真hai6係mou5冇hau2口ci2齒。

He breaks his promise every time, he really has no integrity.

Common phrases

do1多ci3次sik6食jin4言

to break one's promise multiple times

cit3切mat6勿sik6食jin4言

must not break one's promise

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a noun meaning 'a promise', but it is strictly a verb phrase. You cannot say '佢嘅食言' to mean 'his broken promise' in the same way you would use a noun.