朝秦暮楚
朝秦暮楚 (zhāo qín mù chǔ) literally means “morning qin evening chu” and expresses “constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: zhao qin mu chu, zhao qin mu chu,朝秦暮楚 meaning, 朝秦暮楚 in english
Constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain
Pronunciation: zhāo qín mù chǔ Literal meaning: Morning Qin evening Chu
Origin & Usage
During the turbulent Warring States period, this phrase emerged to describe officials who served Qin state in the morning (朝秦) but switched to Chu by evening (暮楚). The 'Strategies of the Warring States' used it to criticize opportunistic loyalty shifts between rival powers. Han Dynasty historians adopted it as shorthand for political opportunism. In today's world, it aptly describes those who repeatedly shift allegiances to align with perceived winners, whether in politics, business, or social circles.
When to Use
Situation: The consultant constantly changed political affiliations depending on which party seemed ascendant
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
名副其实
míng fù qí shí
Living up to one's name or reputation
Learn more →
言而有信
yán ér yǒu xìn
To be true to one's word
Learn more →
天长地久
tiān cháng dì jiǔ
Everlasting; eternal
Learn more →
望穿秋水
wàng chuān qiū shuǐ
To eagerly await someone or something
Learn more →
急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
Seek quick success and immediate benefit
Learn more →
讳莫如深
huì mò rú shēn
Maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter
Learn more →
胡说八道
hú shuō bā dào
Talk complete nonsense without any foundation
Learn more →
虎踞龙盘
hǔ jù lóng pán
Commanding imposing strategic position
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 朝秦暮楚 mean in English?
朝秦暮楚 (zhāo qín mù chǔ) literally translates to “Morning Qin evening Chu” and is used to express “Constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 朝秦暮楚 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain.
What is the pinyin for 朝秦暮楚?
The pinyin pronunciation for 朝秦暮楚 is “zhāo qín mù chǔ”.