be fickle; shift allegiance; opportunistic
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to serve Qin in the morning and Chu in the evening; to be fickle and opportunistic; to switch allegiance repeatedly
Originated from the Warring States period when smaller states had to choose between allying with the powerful Qin or Chu states. Now used to describe people who lack principles and change sides frequently for personal gain.
Tā他
shì是
gè个
zhāo朝
Qín秦
mù暮
Chǔ楚
de的
rén人
，
bù不
kě可
xìn信
rèn任
。
He is a fickle person who cannot be trusted.
Zài在
zhèng政
zhì治
shàng上
zhāo朝
Qín秦
mù暮
Chǔ楚
，
zuì最
zhōng终
huì会
bèi被
suǒ所
yǒu有
rén人
pāo抛
qì弃
。
Those who constantly shift their political allegiance will eventually be abandoned by everyone.
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Zuò做
shēng生
yì意
jiǎng讲
jiu究
chéng诚
xìn信
，
bù不
néng能
zhāo朝
Qín秦
mù暮
Chǔ楚
。
Doing business requires integrity; one cannot be opportunistic and fickle.