








逾淮之橘 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Things change their nature or character when moved to a different environment; a change of environment can alter a person's character or behavior”. Literally, “Oranges crossing the Huai River”.
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.

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Open the tool →逾淮之橘 (yú huái zhī jú) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Things change their nature or character when moved to a different environment; a change of environment can alter a person's character or behavior”.
逾淮之橘 is pronounced yú huái zhī jú in Mandarin Chinese.
Literally, 逾淮之橘 means “Oranges crossing the Huai River”. It is used to mean “Things change their nature or character when moved to a different environment; a change of environment can alter a person's character or behavior”.
逾淮之橘 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
比喻易地而变质的事物。