Chinese equivalent of an English saying
What is the Chinese equivalent of “Words should match actions”?
If you know the English saying "Words should match actions", this page shows nearby Chinese wisdom with similar meaning. The comparisons are conceptual, not claims of shared origin, and they are useful for writers, teachers, students, speakers, and cross-cultural readers.
Quick answer: The pages below are the nearest Chinese wisdom matches for the English idea “Words should match actions”.
Closest or Most Useful Matches
子曰，色厉而内荏，譬诸小人，其犹穿窬之盗也与。 Meaning in English子曰，色厉而内荏，譬诸小人，其犹穿窬之盗也与。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子贡问曰，有一言，而可以终身行之者乎。 Meaning in English子贡问曰，有一言，而可以终身行之者乎。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，不有祝𬶍之佞，而有宋朝之美，难乎免于今之世矣。 Meaning in English子曰，不有祝𬶍之佞，而有宋朝之美，难乎免于今之世矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
曰，文王既没，文不在兹乎。 Meaning in English曰，文王既没，文不在兹乎。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，吾十有五而志于学。 Meaning in English子曰，吾十有五而志于学。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子贡曰贫，而无谄，富而无骄，何如。 Meaning in English子贡曰贫，而无谄，富而无骄，何如。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子谓子贡曰，女与回也，孰愈。 Meaning in English子谓子贡曰，女与回也，孰愈。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，唯上知与下愚不移。 Meaning in English子曰，唯上知与下愚不移。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Related but Not Exact
子曰，先之，劳之。 Meaning in English子曰，先之，劳之。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，不曰如之何，如之何者，吾末如之何也已矣。 Meaning in English子曰，不曰如之何，如之何者，吾末如之何也已矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，士志于道，而耻恶衣恶食者，未足与议也。 Meaning in English子曰，士志于道，而耻恶衣恶食者，未足与议也。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
齐景公问政于孔子。 Meaning in English齐景公问政于孔子。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子贡曰，有美玉于斯，韫匚卖，与「椟」同而藏诸，求善贾而沽诸。 Meaning in English子贡曰，有美玉于斯，韫匚卖，与「椟」同而藏诸，求善贾而沽诸。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
宰我问，三年之丧期已久矣。 Meaning in English宰我问，三年之丧期已久矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子夏问孝，子曰，色难，有事，弟子服其劳，有酒食，先生馔，曾是以为孝乎。 Meaning in English子夏问孝，子曰，色难，有事，弟子服其劳，有酒食，先生馔，曾是以为孝乎。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，甚矣吾衰也，久矣，吾不复梦见周公。 Meaning in English子曰，甚矣吾衰也，久矣，吾不复梦见周公。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Broader Context Pages
子贡方人，子曰，赐也贤乎哉，夫我则不暇。 Meaning in English子贡方人，子曰，赐也贤乎哉，夫我则不暇。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子击磬于卫，有荷蒉，而过孔氏之门者，曰，有心哉，击磬乎。 Meaning in English子击磬于卫，有荷蒉，而过孔氏之门者，曰，有心哉，击磬乎。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，禹吾无间然矣，菲饮食，而致孝乎鬼神，恶衣服，而致美乎黻冕，卑宫室，而尽力乎沟恤，禹吾无间然矣。 Meaning in English子曰，禹吾无间然矣，菲饮食，而致孝乎鬼神，恶衣服，而致美乎黻冕，卑宫室，而尽力乎沟恤，禹吾无间然矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and…
子张问仁于孔子，孔子曰，能行五者于天下为仁矣。 Meaning in English子张问仁于孔子，孔子曰，能行五者于天下为仁矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，诗三百，一言以蔽之，曰，思无邪。 Meaning in English子曰，诗三百，一言以蔽之，曰，思无邪。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，天生德于予，桓魋其如予何。 Meaning in English子曰，天生德于予，桓魋其如予何。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
子曰，夏礼吾能言之，杞不足征也，殷礼吾能言之，宋不足征也，文献不足故也，足，则吾能征之矣。 Meaning in English子曰，夏礼吾能言之，杞不足征也，殷礼吾能言之，宋不足征也，文献不足故也，足，则吾能征之矣。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and…
子曰，师挚之始，关睢之乱，洋洋乎盈耳哉。 Meaning in English子曰，师挚之始，关睢之乱，洋洋乎盈耳哉。: Chinese quote by Confucius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Common Mistake and Safe Use
Use these links as conceptual bridges, not as proof that the English proverb and the Chinese saying have the same source. If you need academic or speech use, open the source-backed pages first and cite the original Chinese text.
Related Modern Tags
Questions People Ask
Is this the exact Chinese translation of “Words should match actions”?
No. It is a conceptual equivalent or nearby idea. The page links Chinese sayings and classical quotes that English readers can understand through this familiar phrase.
Can I use these comparisons in writing?
Yes. Use them as explanatory comparisons and cite the original Chinese source when a page lists one.