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 & character.
Also searched as: zhao qin mu chu, zhao qin mu chu,朝秦暮楚 meaning, 朝秦暮楚 in english
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
不远千里
bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
Willingly travel far; make great efforts
Learn more →
朝思暮想
zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
Learn more →
魂牵梦萦
hún qiān mèng yíng
Yearn day and night
Learn more →
恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
Learn more →
难分难舍
nán fēn nán shě
Be inseparable; hate to part
Learn more →
海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
Until the end of time; eternal love
Learn more →
一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
Learn more →
白头偕老
bái tóu xié lǎo
Grow old together; lifelong partnership
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 theRelationships & Character category..
When is 朝秦暮楚 used?
Situation: The consultant constantly changed political affiliations depending on which party seemed ascendant
What is the pinyin for 朝秦暮楚?
The pinyin pronunciation for 朝秦暮楚 is “zhāo qín mù chǔ”.