YukaHave you ever wanted to tell someone “You say one thing and do another!” in Japanese? There’s a natural phrase for exactly that!
ReiYes! 言っていることとやっていることが違う (itteru koto to yatteru koto ga chigau) is the natural way to call out a contradiction between words and actions.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 言っていることとやっていることが違う | What you say and what you do are different (words ⁄ actions) |
| Short form | 言行不一致 (genkou fu-icchi) — formal/written |
| Casual version | 言ってることとやってることが違うじゃん！ |
Breaking Down the Phrase
Let’s look at the components:
- 言っていること (itteru koto) — what you are saying
- やっていること (yatteru koto) — what you are doing
- が違う (ga chigau) — are different
Together: “What you’re saying and what you’re doing are different.” This phrase directly calls out hypocrisy or inconsistency.
Example Sentences
- あなたの言っていることとやっていることが全然違う。— What you say and what you do are completely different.
- 言ってることとやってることが違うじゃん！— Your words and actions don’t match!
- 社長は節約と言いながら、自分は贅沢している。言っていることとやっていることが違いますね。— The president talks about saving money while living lavishly. Words and actions don’t match.
The Formal Version: 言行不一致
In writing or formal contexts, Japanese uses the four-character compound 言行不一致 (genkou fu-icchi), which means “inconsistency between words and actions.” The opposite, 言行一致 (genkou icchi), means practicing what you preach — a virtue.
- 彼の言行不一致には呆れた。— I was amazed at how his words and actions contradicted each other.
- 言行一致が信頼の基本だ。— Practicing what you preach is the basis of trust.
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
English speakers sometimes use 矛盾 (mujun — contradiction) here, but 矛盾 is more about logical contradiction than personal hypocrisy. 言っていることとやっていることが違う is more personal and direct — the right phrase when calling someone out.
Quick Quiz
How do you say “Your words and actions don’t match!” casually in Japanese?
Answer: 言ってることとやってることが違うじゃん！
Practice with a Tutor
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