逾淮之橘 | Things change nature in a different environment

yú逾huái淮zhī之jú橘

Things change their nature or character when moved to a different environment; a change of environment can alter a person's character or behavior.

一个人若不适应新的环境，可能会像逾淮之橘一样，难以发挥原有的优势。

If a person does not adapt to a new environment, they might be like oranges across the Huai River, finding it difficult to display their original strengths.

Era:

Ancient

Frequency:

Synonym:

逾淮为枳

Story:

During the Spring and Autumn period, Yan Ying, a high official from the State of Qi, was sent on a diplomatic mission 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 replied, 'People all know that orange trees planted south of the Huai River yield sweet oranges, but if transplanted north of the Huai River, they yield bitter trifoliate oranges (枳). A person from Qi becoming a thief upon arriving in Chu is merely a result of the changed environment.' He cleverly responded to the King of Chu.

The King of Chu looked at him with new respect and received him with high honors.

Next Idiom