Definition
朝三暮四 is a chengyu meaning 'fickle' — it describes someone who repeatedly changes their mind or decisions, especially after already settling on something. Unlike 犹豫/迟疑 (hesitation before deciding), it focuses on changing after deciding; unlike 矛盾 (contradiction), it's about inconsistency in action over time.
phrase
to be fickleto change one's mind repeatedlyto blow hot and coldto be inconsistent
Examples
- 朝三暮四，。Tā zhège rén zǒngshì zhāo sān mù sì, suǒyǐ dàjiā dōu bù tài xiāngxìn tā.He is always fickle, so people don't really trust him.
- ，朝三暮四。Nǐ yǐjīng dāying le biérén, jiù bùnéng zhāo sān mù sì.You've already agreed with others, so you can't blow hot and cold.
- 朝三暮四，。Tā zài gōngzuò zhōng yě cháng zhāo sān mù sì, ràng rén hěn tóuténg.She is also often indecisive at work, which really gives people a headache.
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