承诺 (chéngnuò) means 'promise' or 'pledge' — a firm, intentional commitment to do or not do something. The first character 承 (chéng) means 'to accept', 'to undertake', or 'to bear'; the second character 诺 (nuò) means 'to agree' or 'to assent'. Together, they convey the idea of voluntarily accepting responsibility for a future action, often with moral or social weight. It’s more formal and serious than casual promises — commonly used in personal relationships, business agreements, legal contexts, or public statements.

This word emphasizes sincerity and accountability: breaking a 承诺 is seen as damaging trust or integrity. It can function as both a noun ('a promise') and a verb ('to promise'), though as a verb it usually appears in constructions like 承诺要… or 承诺做…, rather than standing alone. It’s frequently paired with words like 履行 (to fulfill), 违背 (to violate), or 兑现 (to honor).