Definition

1. Verb:
   • To go back on one's word: To fail to keep a promise or to retract something one has said.
   • To obey, to heed: To listen to and follow advice or instructions from someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To go back on one's word):

  • Anh ta đã hứa giúp nhưng cuối cùng lại ăn lời. (He promised to help but in the end went back on his word.)
  • Ăn lời là một thói xấu. (Going back on your word is a bad habit.)

• Verb (To obey, to heed):

  • Con cái nên ăn lời cha mẹ. (Children should obey their parents.)
  • Học sinh phải biết ăn lời thầy cô. (Students must know how to heed their teachers' words.)

Advanced Usage

• The meaning "to obey" is now considered somewhat archaic or literary in modern Vietnamese. The meaning "to break a promise" is more commonly used in contemporary language.

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn lỗi (v): To admit one's fault or mistake.
• Thất hứa (v): To break a promise (a more common synonym for the "go back on one's word" meaning).

Synonyms

• Break a promise: To fail to do what one has promised.
• Disobey: To fail to obey (antonym for the "heed" meaning).
• Heed: To pay attention to advice (for the "obey" meaning).

Related Idioms

• Ăn lời ăn tiếng: To be very careful with one's words, often implying a fear of breaking promises or being criticized for what one says.
  • Làm chính trị phải biết ăn lời ăn tiếng. (In politics, one must be very careful with words.)

verb

1. To obey, to take advice of
   • ăn lời thầy giáo
     to obey one's teacher
2. To go back upon one's word