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.
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
Qin in the morning (朝秦), Chu by evening (暮楚). The states named are the two great powers between which the small central states, and the travelling persuaders who served them, spent the Warring States period choosing sides. The phrase is not about mere inconsistency: it names loyalty treated as a position to be taken up and put down according to advantage. Politicians, contractors, and anyone whose allegiance has been observed to track the odds.
Examples
English: "The consultant constantly changed political affiliations depending on which party seemed ascendant"
Chinese: 这位顾问根据哪个政党看起来占上风而不断改变政治立场
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zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
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Fickle and inconsistent
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Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle
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ēn jiāng chóu bào
Ingratitude and betrayal
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Surrounded by hostility
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Recruit talent from rival organization
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朝气蓬勃
zhāo qì péng bó
Vibrant youthful energy and enthusiasm
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Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability
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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: 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”.