# 见异思迁

jiàn yì sī qiān

Keep changing interests when something new appears

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** See something different and wish to move

**Traditional Chinese:** 見異思遷

**Register:** Critical · general

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Criticize fickleness in commitments.

Thoughtful exploration is not always disloyal or unstable.

## Understanding the expression

The attraction of a new thing immediately unsettles the person's current direction. The phrase describes change driven by novelty rather than careful judgment. Modern use concerns hobbies, jobs, plans, and sometimes relationships. It suggests difficulty staying committed long enough to develop or complete something. Changing course can still be wise when evidence supports it. The criticism applies when each fresh attraction repeatedly displaces the previous choice without reflection.

## Examples

他学乐器总是见异思迁。

### Traditional Chinese

他學樂器總是見異思遷。

tā xué yuè qì zǒng shì jiàn yì sī qiān 。

He keeps switching instruments whenever another appeals.

别见异思迁，先完成这个项目。

### Traditional Chinese

別見異思遷，先完成這個項目。

bié jiàn yì sī qiān ， xiān wán chéng zhè ge xiàng mù 。

Do not chase something new; finish this project first.

她选工作时不再见异思迁。

### Traditional Chinese

她選工作時不再見異思遷。

tā xuǎn gōng zuò shí bú zài jiàn yì sī qiān 。

She no longer changes job plans on every new attraction.

见异思迁让他的计划不断中断。

### Traditional Chinese

見異思遷讓他的計劃不斷中斷。

jiàn yì sī qiān ràng tā de jì huà bú duàn zhōng duàn 。

His fickleness keeps interrupting his plans.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%A6%8B%E7%95%B0%E6%80%9D%E9%81%B7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=195&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [将计就计 jiāng jì jiù jì Turn another person’s scheme against them ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiang-ji-jiu-ji)

- [狡兔三窟 jiǎo tù sān kū Keep several routes of escape or backup plans ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-tu-san-ku)

- [矫枉过正 jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng Overcorrect a problem ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jiao-wang-guo-zheng)

- [节外生枝 jié wài shēng zhī Create unexpected complications ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/jie-wai-sheng-zhi)

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