📖 Meaning
Talking too much can cause problems that damage one's conduct and character. Excessive speech may lead to inconsistency between words and actions, ultimately undermining one's moral standing and credibility.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Yuan Dynasty playwright Guan Hanqing's work 'Jinqian Chi' (The Money Pool), specifically in the third act. A character in the play reflects on their own behavior, admitting 'It is not that I am indecisive or forgetful; rather, talking too much harms one's conduct.' The phrase encapsulates the traditional Chinese wisdom that excessive speech can erode personal integrity by creating gaps between what one says and what one actually does.
💡 Example Usage
他明白言多伤行的道理，所以从不在公开场合随意表态。
He understands that talking too much can harm one's conduct, so he never makes casual statements in public.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 言多伤行
- Pinyin: yán duō shāng xíng
- Literal Translation: words many, harm, conduct
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4