随行就市 suí xíng jiù shì follow the market

Explanation

指根据市场行情变化而相应调整自己的行为或价格。体现了一种灵活变通的处世态度。

To adjust one's behavior or price according to changes in the market situation. It reflects a flexible and adaptable attitude towards life.

Origin Story

在一个小镇上，有两个卖布的商人，老张和老李。老张为人固执，总是以固定的价格出售布匹，无论市场行情如何变化，他都一成不变。而老李则灵活精明，他总是根据市场的需求和价格波动来调整自己的布匹价格，随行就市。一段时间后，老李的生意越来越兴隆，而老张的生意却每况愈下，最终不得不关门大吉。

zài yīgè xiǎo zhèn shang, yǒu liǎng gè mài bù de shāng rén, lǎo zhāng hé lǎo lǐ. lǎo zhāng wéi rén gùzhī, zǒng shì yǐ gùdìng de jiàgé chūshòu bù pǐ, wúlùn shìchǎng xíngqíng rúhé biànhuà, tā dōu yī chéng bù biàn. ér lǎo lǐ zé línghuó jīngmíng, tā zǒng shì gēnjù shìchǎng de xūqiú hé jiàgé bōdòng lái tiáo zhěng zìjǐ de bù pǐ jiàgé, suí xíng jiù shì. yī duàn shíjiān hòu, lǎo lǐ de shēngyì yuè lái yuè xīnglóng, ér lǎo zhāng de shēngyì què měikuàng yù xià, zuìzhōng bùdé bù guānmén dàjí.

In a small town, there were two merchants who sold cloth, Old Zhang and Old Li. Old Zhang was stubborn and always sold his cloth at a fixed price, regardless of market fluctuations. Old Li, on the other hand, was flexible and shrewd, always adjusting his cloth prices according to market demand and price fluctuations. After a while, Old Li's business thrived, while Old Zhang's business declined and he eventually had to close shop.

Usage

作谓语、状语；指根据市场行情办事。

zuò wèiyǔ, zhuàngyǔ; zhǐ gēnjù shìchǎng xíngqíng bànshì.

As predicate, adverbial; means to act according to the market conditions.

Examples

• 老王卖白菜，总是随行就市，价格公道。

  lǎo wáng mài báicài, zǒng shì suí xíng jiù shì, jiàgé gōngdào.

  Old Wang always sells his cabbage according to the market price, so the price is fair.

• 这家商店的商品价格随行就市，非常合理。

  zhè jiā shāngdiàn de shāngpǐn jiàgé suí xíng jiù shì, fēicháng hélǐ

  The goods in this shop are priced according to the market price, which is very reasonable

Related Idioms

• 见风使舵

• 投机取巧

Opposite Idioms

• 墨守成规

• 固步自封