朝秦暮楚 zhāo qín mù chǔ Serving Qin in the morning, Chu in the evening

Explanation

比喻人反复无常，或表示做事犹豫不决，缺乏主见。

It describes someone who is indecisive and fickle.

Origin Story

战国时期，群雄逐鹿，秦楚两国实力最强，其他诸侯国为了自保，经常在秦楚之间摇摆不定，一会儿依附秦国，一会儿又投靠楚国，这种行为就如同早晨侍奉秦国，傍晚又侍奉楚国一样，因此得名“朝秦暮楚”。例如，某小国为了自身利益，今天与秦国结盟，明天又与楚国修好，反复无常，最终导致自身实力衰弱，难以立足。历史上也有不少大臣或谋士，为了个人荣华富贵，在不同的君主之间投机取巧，他们的命运往往也是飘摇不定，最终难逃悲惨的结局。朝秦暮楚的故事告诉我们，做人做事要坚定立场，不能见风使舵，更不能为了眼前的利益而牺牲长远的利益。只有坚持自己的原则，才能在风云变幻的时代中立于不败之地。

zhànguó shíqī, qúnxióng zhúlù, qín chǔ liǎng guó shí lì zuì qiáng, qítā zhūhóu guó wèi le zì bǎo, jīngcháng zài qín chǔ zhī jiān yáobǎi bù dìng, yīhuǐr yīfù qín guó, yīhuǐr yòu tóukào chǔ guó, zhè zhǒng xíngwéi jiù rútóng zǎoshang shìfèng qín guó, bàngwǎn yòu shìfèng chǔ guó yīyàng, yīncǐ dé míng “zhāo qín mù chǔ”. lìrú, mǒu xiǎoguó wèi le zìshēn lìyì, jīntiān yǔ qín guó jié méng, míngtiān yòu yǔ chǔ guó xiūhǎo, fǎnfù wú cháng, zuìzhōng dǎozhì zìshēn shí lì shuāi ruò, nán yǐ lì zú. lìshǐ shàng yě yǒu bù shǎo dà chén huò móushì, wèile gèrén rónghuá fùguì, zài bùtóng de jūnzhǔ zhī jiān tóujī qǔqiǎo, tāmen de mìngyùn wángwáng yě shì piāoyáo bù dìng, zuìzhōng nántáo bēicǎn de jiéjú. zhāo qín mù chǔ de gùshì gàosù wǒmen, zuò rén zuòshì yào jiāndìng lìchǎng, bù néng jiànfēng shǐduò, gèng bù néng wèile yǎn qián de lìyì ér xīshēng chángyuǎn de lìyì. zhǐyǒu jiānchí zìjǐ de yuánzé, cái néng zài fēngyún biànhuàn de shídài zhōng lì yú bùbài zhī dì.

During the Warring States period in ancient China, the seven major states were constantly vying for power. Qin and Chu were the strongest, and the smaller states often tried to maintain good relations with both to ensure their survival. This led to frequent shifts in alliances. One day they'd ally with Qin, the next with Chu, earning them the name "serving Qin in the morning and Chu in the evening". This idiom highlights the dangers of being fickle and changing alliances too often. It emphasizes the importance of consistency and loyalty in achieving long-term success.

Usage

常用来形容一个人反复无常，犹豫不决，没有主见。

cháng yòng lái xíngróng yīgè rén fǎnfù wú cháng, yóuyù bù jué, méiyǒu zhǔjiàn.

It is used to describe someone who is indecisive and fickle.

Examples

• 他朝秦暮楚，最终一事无成。

  tā zhāo qín mù chǔ, zuìzhōng yīshì wú chéng.

  He served both Qin and Chu, without accomplishing anything.

• 这个国家的政策朝秦暮楚，让人民无所适从。

  zhège guójiā de zhèngcè zhāo qín mù chǔ, ràng rénmín wú suǒ shìcóng

  The country's policies were inconsistent, confusing the people.

Related Idioms

• 朝三暮四

• 见异思迁

• 反复无常

Opposite Idioms

• 坚定不移

• 始终如一