有言実行
有言実行（ゆうげんじっこう // following through on a promise; being as good as your word; doing what you say you’ll do）
This 四字熟語 (よじじゅくご // 4-character compound word) refers to the act of following through on what one says one will do.
For example:
彼女は有言実行して公認会計士になった。
かのじょ は ゆうげんじっこう して こうにんかいけいし に なった。
She followed through on her words and became a certified public accountant.
Literally: “she + は + doing what you say you’ll do + do (and) + certified public accountant + の + qualification / certification + に + became.”
"She" said that she was going to become a certified public accountant. And then that's what she actually did.
Looking at a kanji breakdown, the word 有言実行 (ゆうげんじっこう) makes sense:
有 (possess)
言 (say)
実 (reality)
行 (going)
First you "have" (有) something that you "say" (言), and then you "actually" (実) "go" (行) and do it.
It is worth nothing that 実行 (じっこう) is a standalone word meaning something like "execution," "realization," or "implementation."
You can use it as a する-verb:
反戦デモは、予定通りに実行された。
はんせん デモ は、 よてい どおり に じっこう された。
The anti-war demonstration was carried out as planned.
Literally: “anti-war demonstration + は, + as planned (=plan + in accordance with) + に + execution / realization + was done.”
Here's one more example with 有言実行：
私のモットーは「有言実行」です。
わたし の モットー は 「ゆうげんじっこう」 です。
My motto is, “Do what you say you’re gonna do.”
Literally: “I + の + motto + は + doing what you say you’ll do + です.”
With that, I think we're ready to zoom in on the kanji a bit...
Meaning of 有：possess, have, exist
Heisig Keyword: possess
レジ袋は有料です。
レジぶくろ は ゆうりょう です。
There is a charge for plastic bags.
Literally: “disposable shopping bag (=[cash] register + bag) + は + (has a) charge / fee + です.”
Meaning of 言：say
Heisig Keyword: say
えっ？今なんて言った？
えっ？ いま なんて いった？
Huh? What did you just say?
Literally: “huh? + now + what + said?”
Meaning of 実：truth, reality
Heisig Keyword: reality
これは実際にあった話です。
これ は じっさい に あった はなし です。
This is a true story. // This actually happened.
Literally: “this + は + reality + に + happened / there was + talk / story + です.”
Meaning of 行：journey, going
Heisig Keyword: going
どこ行くの？
どこ いく の？
Where are you going?
Literally: “where + go + の?”
To wrap things up, let's look at our examples with 有言実行 one more time.
You might want to try reading them once, then repeating them with your eyes closed...
彼女は有言実行しての公認会計士になった。
かのじょ は ゆうげんじっこう して こうにんかいけいし に なった。
She followed through on her words and became a certified public accountant.
Literally: “she + は + doing what you say you’ll do + do (and) + certified public accountant + の + qualification / certification + に + became.”
私のモットーは「有言実行」です。
わたし の モットー は 「ゆうげんじっこう」 です。
My motto is, “Do what you say you’re gonna do.”
Literally: “I + の + motto + は + doing what you say you’ll do + です.”
Finished!
This 四字熟語 (よじじゅくご // 4-character compound word) refers to the act of following through on what one says one will do.
For example:
彼女は有言実行して公認会計士になった。
かのじょ は ゆうげんじっこう して こうにんかいけいし に なった。
She followed through on her words and became a certified public accountant.
Literally: “she + は + doing what you say you’ll do + do (and) + certified public accountant + の + qualification / certification + に + became.”
"She" said that she was going to become a certified public accountant. And then that's what she actually did.
Looking at a kanji breakdown, the word 有言実行 (ゆうげんじっこう) makes sense:
有 (possess)
言 (say)
実 (reality)
行 (going)
First you "have" (有) something that you "say" (言), and then you "actually" (実) "go" (行) and do it.
It is worth nothing that 実行 (じっこう) is a standalone word meaning something like "execution," "realization," or "implementation."
You can use it as a する-verb:
反戦デモは、予定通りに実行された。
はんせん デモ は、 よてい どおり に じっこう された。
The anti-war demonstration was carried out as planned.
Literally: “anti-war demonstration + は, + as planned (=plan + in accordance with) + に + execution / realization + was done.”
Here's one more example with 有言実行：
私のモットーは「有言実行」です。
わたし の モットー は 「ゆうげんじっこう」 です。
My motto is, “Do what you say you’re gonna do.”
Literally: “I + の + motto + は + doing what you say you’ll do + です.”
With that, I think we're ready to zoom in on the kanji a bit...
Meaning of 有：possess, have, exist
Heisig Keyword: possess
レジ袋は有料です。
レジぶくろ は ゆうりょう です。
There is a charge for plastic bags.
Literally: “disposable shopping bag (=[cash] register + bag) + は + (has a) charge / fee + です.”
Meaning of 言：say
Heisig Keyword: say
えっ？今なんて言った？
えっ？ いま なんて いった？
Huh? What did you just say?
Literally: “huh? + now + what + said?”
Meaning of 実：truth, reality
Heisig Keyword: reality
これは実際にあった話です。
これ は じっさい に あった はなし です。
This is a true story. // This actually happened.
Literally: “this + は + reality + に + happened / there was + talk / story + です.”
Meaning of 行：journey, going
Heisig Keyword: going
どこ行くの？
どこ いく の？
Where are you going?
Literally: “where + go + の?”
To wrap things up, let's look at our examples with 有言実行 one more time.
You might want to try reading them once, then repeating them with your eyes closed...
彼女は有言実行しての公認会計士になった。
かのじょ は ゆうげんじっこう して こうにんかいけいし に なった。
She followed through on her words and became a certified public accountant.
Literally: “she + は + doing what you say you’ll do + do (and) + certified public accountant + の + qualification / certification + に + became.”
私のモットーは「有言実行」です。
わたし の モットー は 「ゆうげんじっこう」 です。
My motto is, “Do what you say you’re gonna do.”
Literally: “I + の + motto + は + doing what you say you’ll do + です.”
Finished!
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