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说到做到 (shuō dào zuò dào) — to practice what you preach; to be as good as one's word

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'practice what you preach' — emphasizes keeping promises through action, not just words.

idiom
to practice what you preachto be as good as one's word

Examples

  • 说到做到，。
    Tā zhè ge rén shuō dào zuò dào, cóng bù sā huǎng.
    He is a man of his word and never lies.
  • ，说到做到。
    Jì rán dā ying le, jiù yào shuō dào zuò dào.
    Since you promised, you must follow through.
  • 说到做到。
    shuō dào zuò dào Shì yì zhǒng zhòng yào de pǐn zhì.
    Being as good as your word is an important quality.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

说到say reach
说shuōsay到dàoreach
补充Verb + complement
做到do reach
做zuòdo到dàoreach
补充Verb + complement

“说” and “做” each reach their target, so what is said is also done.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 做 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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