📖 Meaning
To follow someone's words and heed their plans, signifying complete trust in a person. It describes a relationship where one accepts another's advice and proposals without question. The idiom is a variant of the more common expression 言听计从.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Qing dynasty playwright Hong Sheng's (洪昇) dramatic work The Palace of Eternal Life (长生殿), in the scene titled Bribery for Power (贿权). In the play, a character states that someone follows their words and heeds their schemes, implying they wield subtle influence behind the scenes. The phrase captures the dynamic of placing deep trust in a person so that all their counsel is adopted without hesitation.
💡 Example Usage
经理对他言从计听，公司大事全凭他定夺。
The manager followed his words and heeded his plans, leaving all major company decisions to him.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 言从计听
- Pinyin: yán cóng jì tīng
- Literal Translation: words, follow, plans, listen
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4