Chinese Idiom: 信誓旦旦 (Xin Shi Dan Dan)
English Translation: Solemnly vow
pīn yīn: xìn shì dàn dàn
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where promises or vows are made with great sincerity and earnestness.
Historical Source: Poem “氓” (Máng) in the Book of Songs (《诗经》).
Idiom Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, a young woman lived by the banks of the Qi River in the State of Wei (present-day Qi County, Henan). In her youth, she was beautiful and attracted a young man who wooed her with sweet words, promising a lifelong commitment. They married, and despite the young man’s humble background, she devoted herself to him without complaints.
However, as time passed and the woman aged, her husband began to mistreat her and ultimately abandoned her. Heartbroken and filled with resentment, she initially struggled with her emotions. Yet, she was a strong woman who eventually resolved to cut ties with her unfaithful husband.
Her experiences inspired a narrative poem titled “氓,” which exposes the evils of feudal society. This poem consists of six stanzas, each reflecting different stages of her life and emotions:
- The first stanza describes her former husband coming to court her.
- The second stanza conveys her hopes and dreams of marriage.
- The third stanza reveals her deep love for her husband and the lessons learned.
- The fourth stanza depicts her suffering after being abandoned.
- The fifth stanza illustrates the abuse she endured and the scorn she faced upon returning to her family.
- The sixth stanza captures her awakening and decision to sever ties with her unfaithful spouse.
The final stanza reads:
“及尔偕老, 老使我怨。淇则有岸，隰则有泮。总角之宴，言笑晏晏。信誓旦旦，不思其反。反是不思，亦已焉哉!”
In this stanza, she reflects on her husband’s promise to love her until old age, which only deepens her resentment. She contrasts the physical banks of the Qi and Xi rivers with her husband’s unpredictable heart. Reminiscing about their joyful childhood and the solemn vows he made during their marriage, she realizes the stark difference between his words and actions. Ultimately, she decides to forget him completely and move on.
This narrative illustrates the meaning of “信誓旦旦,” emphasizing the sincerity of promises that can lead to deep disappointment when broken.
