# 朝三暮四

zhāo sān mù sì

Keep changing one's mind or commitments

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Three in the morning and four in the evening

**Register:** Critical · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use to criticize repeated changes in intention, plans, or attachment.

Modern use often concerns inconsistency; do not assume every change of plan is dishonest.

## Understanding the expression

The contrasting morning and evening arrangements make instability the memorable image for modern readers. Today the idiom commonly criticizes fickleness or unreliable commitments. It may also appear in relationships, where its tone becomes particularly accusatory. A thoughtful revision based on new evidence is different from repeatedly changing direction without good reason. Context should identify what keeps changing and why that creates a problem.

## Examples

他选专业时朝三暮四，始终拿不定主意。

### Traditional Chinese

他選專業時朝三暮四，始終拿不定主意。

tā xuǎn zhuān yè shí zhāo sān mù sì ， shǐ zhōng ná bú dìng zhǔ yì 。

He kept changing his mind about his major and could not decide.

项目方向不能朝三暮四，否则大家无法安排工作。

### Traditional Chinese

項目方向不能朝三暮四，否則大家無法安排工作。

xiàng mù fāng xiàng bù néng zhāo sān mù sì ， fǒu zé dà jiā wú fǎ ān pái gōng zuò 。

The project cannot keep changing direction, or no one can plan their work.

她不喜欢朝三暮四的人，更看重稳定的承诺。

### Traditional Chinese

她不喜歡朝三暮四的人，更看重穩定的承諾。

tā bù xǐ huan zhāo sān mù sì de rén ， gèng kàn zhòng wěn dìng de chéng nuò 。

She dislikes people with shifting commitments and values reliability.

今天想开店，明天想辞职旅行，他总是朝三暮四。

### Traditional Chinese

今天想開店，明天想辭職旅行，他總是朝三暮四。

jīn tiān xiǎng kāi diàn ， míng tiān xiǎng cí zhí lǚ xíng ， tā zǒng shì zhāo sān mù sì 。

Today he wants to open a shop and tomorrow to quit and travel; his plans keep changing.

## 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=%E6%9C%9D%E4%B8%89%E6%9A%AE%E5%9B%9B)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=6&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [正中下怀 zhèng zhòng xià huái Be exactly what one secretly or especially wants ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zheng-zhong-xia-huai)

- [知难而退 zhī nán ér tuì Step back after recognizing the difficulty ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhi-nan-er-tui)

- [置之度外 zhì zhī dù wài Set something aside from consideration ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhi-zhi-du-wai)

- [终南捷径 zhōng nán jié jìng A calculated shortcut to status or advancement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhong-nan-jie-jing)

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