食言 shí yán

to break a promise; to go back on one's word; to renege

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 11860th word

Definitions

  1. 1. to break a promise
  2. 2. to go back on one's word
  3. 3. to renege
  4. 4. lit. to eat one's words
  5. 5. unsworn testimony

Characters

Character Meaning
食 shí HSK 5
to eat; food; animal feed
言 yán HSK 4
to say; to talk; speech