出爾反爾

Chinese

to go out; to come out; to occur
to go out; to come out; to occur; to produce; to go beyond; to rise; to put forth; to happen; (a measure word for dramas, plays, or operas)
 
 you to return you
trad. (出爾反爾) 出 爾 反 爾
simp. (出尔反尔) 出 尔 反 尔
Literally: “What comes from you, goes back to you”.

Etymology

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》). Originally means "you get treated in the same way that you treat others". Now "to contradict oneself".

曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎爾者，反乎爾者也。』夫民今而後得反之也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎尔者，反乎尔者也。』夫民今而后得反之也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Céngzǐ yuē: ‘Jiè zhī jiè zhī! Chū hū ěr zhě, fǎn hū ěr zhě yě.’ Fú mín jīn ér hòu dé fǎn zhī yě. [Pinyin]
The philosopher Zeng said, "Beware, beware. What proceeds from you, will return to you again." Now at length the people have paid back the conduct of their officers to them.

Pronunciation

Idiom

出爾反爾

  1. to break a promise

Synonyms

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