喜怒无常 xǐ nù wú cháng fickle

Explanation

形容人的情绪变化不定,一会儿高兴,一会儿生气。

Describes someone whose mood changes constantly, sometimes happy, sometimes angry.

Origin Story

从前,有个国王,他生性喜怒无常。大臣们战战兢兢,生怕触怒了他。有一天,国王心情很好,赏赐了大臣们很多金银珠宝。大臣们欢欣鼓舞,以为国王终于开明了。然而,没过多久,国王又因为一件小事勃然大怒,把几个大臣关进了地牢。大臣们这才明白,国王的喜怒完全无法预料,如同六月的天,娃娃的脸。于是,大臣们不得不小心谨慎地揣测国王的心思,以避免触怒龙颜。

cóng qián, yǒu ge guówáng, tā shēngxìng xǐ nù wú cháng. dàchén men zhàn zhàn jīng jīng, shēngpà chùnù le tā. yǒu yī tiān, guówáng xīnqíng hěn hǎo, shǎngcì le dàchén men hěn duō jīn yín zhūbǎo. dàchén men huānxīn gǔwǔ, yǐwéi guówáng zōngyú kāimíng le. rán'ér, méi guò duō jiǔ, guówáng yòu yīnwèi yī jiàn xiǎoshì bó rán dà nù, bǎ jǐ ge dàchén guān jìng le dìláo. dàchén men cái cái míngbái, guówáng de xǐ nù wánquán wúfǎ yùliào, rútóng liù yuè de tiān, wáwá de liǎn. yúshì, dàchén men bùdébù xiǎoxīn jǐnzhèn de chuāicè guówáng de xīnsī, yǐ bìmiǎn chùnù lóngyán.

Once upon a time, there was a king who was capricious by nature. His ministers lived in constant fear of angering him. One day, the king was in a good mood and bestowed many jewels and riches upon his ministers. The ministers rejoiced, hoping the king had finally become more enlightened. However, not long after, the king flew into a rage over a trifle and threw some ministers into prison. The ministers realized that the king’s mood was unpredictable, like the weather in June. Thus, they had to carefully gauge the king’s mood to avoid his wrath.

Usage

通常作谓语、宾语、定语;形容情绪变化不定。

tōngcháng zuò wèiyǔ, bìnyǔ, dìngyǔ; xiānghóng qíngxù biànhuà bùdìng

Usually used as predicate, object, or attributive; describes unstable mood.

Examples

  • 他的情绪喜怒无常,让人难以捉摸。

    tā de qíngxù xǐ nù wú cháng, ràng rén nán yǐ zhuō mō

    His mood is fickle and unpredictable.

  • 这孩子喜怒无常,一会儿哭一会儿笑。

    zhè háizi xǐ nù wú cháng, yī huìr kū yī huìr xiào

    The child is moody, crying and laughing at once.

  • 股票市场喜怒无常,风险极高。

    gǔpiào shìchǎng xǐ nù wú cháng, fēngxiǎn jí gāo

    The stock market is volatile and very risky.