# 言行一致

yán xíng yī zhì

Match words with actions

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Speech and conduct are consistent

**Register:** Positive · conversational

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Use when someone acts according to what they say.

It concerns consistency; consistent behavior can still be wrong.

## Behind the words

The expression pairs speech and conduct. Their agreement is a traditional measure of personal reliability.

言 refers to words and 行 to conduct. The expression compares what someone advocates, says, or promises with what they actually do. It can cover broader principles than a single kept promise. A person may be sincere yet inconsistent; the idiom praises observable alignment rather than good intentions alone.

## Examples

大家信任他，是因为他总是言行一致。

### Traditional Chinese

大家信任他，是因為他總是言行一致。

dà jiā xìn rèn tā ， shì yīn wèi tā zǒng shì yán xíng yī zhì 。

People trust him because his actions consistently match his words.

她提倡节约，也从不浪费，真正做到了言行一致。

### Traditional Chinese

她提倡節約，也從不浪費，真正做到了言行一致。

tā tí chàng jié yuē ， yě cóng bú làng fèi ， zhēn zhèng zuò dào le yán xíng yī zhì 。

She advocates thrift and avoids waste herself, matching her actions to her words.

老师要求学生守时，自己也准时到课，言行一致。

### Traditional Chinese

老師要求學生守時，自己也準時到課，言行一致。

lǎo shī yāo qiú xué shēng shǒu shí ， zì jǐ yě zhǔn shí dào kè ， yán xíng yī zhì 。

The teacher asks students to be punctual and arrives on time too.

我们希望公司的环保承诺和实际采购言行一致。

### Traditional Chinese

我們希望公司的環保承諾和實際採購言行一致。

wǒ men xī wàng gōng sī de huán bǎo chéng nuò hé shí jì cǎi gòu yán xíng yī zhì 。

We want the company's environmental promises to match its purchasing practices.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=9948&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%A8%80%E8%A1%8C%E4%B8%80%E8%87%B4)

## Keep exploring

- [阳奉阴违 yáng fèng yīn wéi Agree outwardly while secretly disobeying ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yang-feng-yin-wei)

- [仰人鼻息 yǎng rén bí xī Depend on another person's favor for survival ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yang-ren-bi-xi)

- [摇尾乞怜 yáo wěi qǐ lián Grovel for someone’s favor ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yao-wei-qi-lian)

- [要言不烦 yào yán bù fán Speak concisely while covering the essentials ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yao-yan-bu-fan)

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