諺語 · a single proverb
朝三暮四
What does 朝三暮四 (zhāo sān mù sì) mean?
朝三暮四 (zhāo sān mù sì) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "three in the morning, four in the evening." In use it means: Being fooled by superficial changes when the substance is the same; or, being fickle and inconsistent. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "three in the morning, four in the evening."
The reading
He offered the monkeys three acorns in the morning and four at night. They were furious. He switched to four in the morning and three at night. They were delighted. The total never changed. Watch what actually changes before you react.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Zhuangzi 莊子, Qi Wu Lun 齊物論; also Liezi 列子
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 朝三暮四 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 朝三暮四 (zhāo sān mù sì) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Zhuangzi 莊子, Qi Wu Lun 齊物論; also Liezi 列子. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 朝三暮四?
In Mandarin it is zhāo sān mù sì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 朝三暮四 aloud in Mandarin.