‘食言’ (shí yán) literally means ‘to eat one’s words’—a vivid idiom expressing the act of breaking a promise or going back on one’s word. The character 食 (shí) means ‘to eat’, and 言 (yán) means ‘words’ or ‘speech’. Together, they evoke the image of swallowing or retracting what was spoken, emphasizing regret, shame, or unreliability. This term carries a strong moral connotation and is often used in formal or serious contexts to criticize dishonesty or unreliability.

It’s commonly found in discussions about trust, commitments, and integrity—especially when someone fails to fulfill a verbal agreement, pledge, or public assurance. While it can appear in both spoken and written Chinese, it’s more frequent in formal writing, news reports, and moral instruction than in casual daily speech. Unlike neutral terms like ‘cancel’ or ‘change plans’, ‘食言’ always implies blame and ethical failure.