朝令夕改

zhāo lìng xī gǎi◆idiom

constant changeability

政府的政策朝令夕改，让企业无所适从。

The government's ever-changing policies left businesses confused.

◆ What It Really Means

Represents a situation where decisions or rules are altered so frequently that they become unreliable or meaningless, often leading to confusion or distrust.

¶ Literal Meaning

Morning orders are rescinded by evening.

Literal Breakdown

朝morning+令to order+夕evening+改to change

◇ Mental Image

A ruler shouting orders at dawn that are completely reversed by sunset, creating chaos and uncertainty among subjects.

◈ When to Use

A manager announces a new project deadline on Monday morning, only to push it back to next month by Wednesday evening, leaving the team scrambling.

◉ Cultural Note

Originates from the historical anecdote of a ruler in the Warring States period (战国时代) who frequently changed his decrees. The idiom has since become a metaphor for extreme fickleness in governance or leadership.

formal

frequent and unpredictable changes in policies or plans, often causing confusion or instability

这个公司的规章制度朝令夕改，员工们都怨声载道。

The company's constantly changing rules left employees frustrated.

政策朝令夕改会严重影响投资环境。

Frequent policy changes severely harm the investment environment.

Often used in political, administrative, or organizational contexts to criticize lack of consistency.

Collocations

政策朝令夕改frequent policy changes朝令夕改的政策ever-changing policies

Synonyms

变化无常反复无常出尔反尔

Antonyms

言出必行说一不二

Related Phrases

朝三暮四idiom

to keep changing plans or ideas

朝秦暮楚idiom

to be fickle or indecisive in allegiance

Pro Tip

Context Matters

This idiom is almost always used negatively to criticize inconsistency. It's rarely used to describe personal habits or minor decisions.

Gold Rule

Policy vs. Personal Habits

Use this idiom for institutional or official changes (e.g., government policies, company rules). Do not use it for personal fickleness.

Word Origin

From the historical record of the Warring States period (战国时代), describing a ruler who issued morning orders and rescinded them by evening, symbolizing extreme fickleness in governance.

Usage Notes

Primarily used in formal or critical contexts to describe institutional or leadership instability. Avoid using in casual conversation unless referring to a specific policy issue.

Word Breakdown

朝

morning

root

令

to issue an order

root

夕

evening

root

改

to change

root

汉英词典

Browse more Chinese→English words →