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见异思迁
jiàn yì sī qiān◆idiom
change one's mind constantly
他这个人见异思迁，什么都干不长。
He's a person who changes his mind constantly and never sticks to anything.
formal
To frequently change one's goals, interests, or loyalties based on new or different things, often without commitment.
他总是见异思迁，今天学画画，明天学钢琴，从来没有坚持过。
He always changes his mind—today he's learning painting, tomorrow piano, and never sticks with anything.
公司不希望员工见异思迁，频繁跳槽。
The company doesn't want employees to frequently change jobs and abandon their commitments.
Often used to criticize someone's lack of perseverance or fickleness.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoiding Misuse
Don't use this idiom to describe someone who explores different interests in a positive way (e.g., trying new hobbies). It implies a lack of commitment rather than curiosity.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
This idiom is typically used in negative contexts. For positive exploration, consider phrases like '广泛尝试' (broadly trying out) or '开拓视野' (broadening one's horizons).
Word Origin
From the Confucian classic '论语·阳货' (Analects of Confucius, Yang Huo): '见不善如探汤，吾见其人矣。见善如不及，見異思遷，吾聞其語矣。' The phrase originally meant to abandon one's principles when encountering something new, later evolving to describe fickleness in modern usage.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both personal and professional contexts to describe someone who lacks perseverance or commitment. Often carries a negative connotation.
Word Breakdown
见
to see
root异
different
root思
to think
root迁
to move
root汉英词典