“Once a word is spoken, it is hard to chase it” comes from "The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan".

"The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan": "The master said that a gentleman's horse cannot catch up with his tongue." "Deng Xizi·Zhuan Ci": "One word that is wrong, the horse cannot catch up; one word that is hasty, the horse cannot catch up with it. ." He pointed out that it would be difficult to catch up even with a four-horse carriage. Once you say something, you can't take it back. You must count it and keep your word.

“Once a word is spoken, it’s hard to chase it back” yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī ji: Already. Four horses: Four horses driving a chariot in ancient times; or a chariot with four horses: ~ Jie (a chariot driven by four armored horses). After saying this sentence, it is difficult to catch up even if it is hitched to a chariot drawn by four horses. Once you say something, you can't take it back. It must count. Extended information

Allusion:

In the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a doctor named Ji Zicheng in the state of Wei. One day, Ji Zicheng said to Zigong, a student of Confucius: "It is enough for a gentleman to have a good nature, why should he also have literary talents?" Zigong said: "You are wrong to say that. Four horses The car you pull cannot catch up with what you have said. Essence and culture are equally important. Let me use fur as an example to explain! The difference between tiger and leopard skins and dog and sheep skins is both in essence and in content. Wencai, if you pluck out the hair with wencai from these two types of animal skins, the tiger and leopard skins will look like dog and sheep skins.

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Baidu Encyclopedia—"The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan"