逾淮为枳 — “The nature or character of things changes with the environment”
逾淮为枳 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the nature or character of things changes with the environment”. What is good in one place may become bad in another, emphasizing the significant influence of surroundings. Literally, “Cross the Huai River, become a trifoliate orange”.
逾淮为枳 Pronunciation and Pinyin
逾淮为枳 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 逾淮为枳
Origin and Story of 逾淮为枳
During the Spring and Autumn period, Yan Ying, a high-ranking official from the State of Qi, was sent as an envoy to the State of Chu.
The King of Chu, seeing his short stature, mocked him.
He then had a thief brought in and claimed he was from Qi.
Yan Ying responded, "Everyone knows that an orange tree becomes a trifoliate orange once it crosses the Huai River. People from Qi become thieves when they come to Chu; it is merely a change in environment."
His clever retort impressed the King of Chu, who then treated him with high respect.
Idioms Related to 逾淮为枳
Synonyms of 逾淮为枳
More idioms starting with 逾
- yú逾jiǎ假bù不guī归overstay leave
- yú逾qiān千yuè越wàn万exceeding thousands and tens of thousands
- yú逾qiáng墙kuī窥pín蠙clandestine love affair
- yú逾qiáng墙kuī窥xì隙to have a secret love affair
- yú逾qiáng墙yuè越shě舍to make a quick getaway
- yú逾qiáng墙bì避mìng命avoid summons by climbing wall
- yú逾qiáng墙zuàn钻xué穴to have an illicit love affair
- yú逾qiáng墙zuàn钻pín蠙have a clandestine love affair
- yú逾qiáng墙zuān钻xì隙make illicit advances to women
- yú逾shān山yuè越hǎi海cross mountains and seas
- yú逾nián年lì历suì岁to pass through many years
- yú逾páo庖ér而yàn宴bypass proper channels or act improperly
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Open the tool →Questions about 逾淮为枳
What does 逾淮为枳 mean?
逾淮为枳 (yú huái wèi zhǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the nature or character of things changes with the environment”.
How do you pronounce 逾淮为枳?
逾淮为枳 is pronounced yú huái wèi zhǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 逾淮为枳 literally mean?
Literally, 逾淮为枳 means “Cross the Huai River, become a trifoliate orange”. It is used to mean “the nature or character of things changes with the environment”.
Where does 逾淮为枳 come from?
逾淮为枳 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 逾淮为枳?
逾：越过；枳：枸橘。指橘树过了淮河就变成了枳树。比喻事物的状况随环境而改变