'朝三暮四'的古今义
Three at Dawn and Four at Dusk
Start朝三暮四
The origin story of the idiom 'Three at Dawn and Four at Dusk'.
43 new words
朝三暮四zhāosān mùsìto give three in the morning and four in the evening—to play fast and loose
“朝三暮四”是一个固定结构的成语，也是一则寓言。
‘Three in the morning and four at night’ is an idiom with a fixed form and also a fable.
词汇cíhuìvocabulary
这个说法所用的词汇表面简单，整体意思却要放在一起综合理解。
The vocabulary used in the phrase looks simple, but its overall meaning needs to be understood as a whole.
固定gùdìngadj./v. fixed, settled; to fix
“朝三暮四”是一个固定结构的成语，也是一则寓言。
‘Three in the morning and four at night’ is an idiom with a fixed form and also a fable.
结构jiégòustructure
“朝三暮四”是一个固定结构的成语，也是一则寓言。
‘Three in the morning and four at night’ is an idiom with a fixed form and also a fable.
整体zhěngtǐwhole, entirety
这个说法所用的词汇表面简单，整体意思却要放在一起综合理解。
The vocabulary used in the phrase looks simple, but its overall meaning needs to be understood as a whole.
综合zōnghéto synthesize; comprehensive, integrated
这个说法所用的词汇表面简单，整体意思却要放在一起综合理解。
The vocabulary used in the phrase looks simple, but its overall meaning needs to be understood as a whole.
完整wánzhěngadj. complete
可是把每天的总数完整地算下来，仍然是七颗，总数并没有改变，分配方式也只是换了个说法。
Yet when the complete daily total was counted, it was still seven, so the total had not changed; the allocation had only been described differently.
哲学家zhéxuéjiāphilosopher
从前有个像哲学家一样爱思考的人，家里养着许多只猴子，日日由他喂养。
Long ago, there was a man who liked to think like a philosopher and kept many monkeys at home, feeding them every day.
寓言yùyánfable
“朝三暮四”是一个固定结构的成语，也是一则寓言。
‘Three in the morning and four at night’ is an idiom with a fixed form and also a fable.
喂养wèiyǎngto feed, to raise
从前有个像哲学家一样爱思考的人，家里养着许多只猴子，日日由他喂养。
Long ago, there was a man who liked to think like a philosopher and kept many monkeys at home, feeding them every day.
群qúngroup, herd, flock
这个小群体中，不同猴子会为同一件小事争论。
In this small group, different monkeys would argue over the same small matter.
猴子hóuzimonkey
从前有个像哲学家一样爱思考的人，家里养着许多只猴子，日日由他喂养。
Long ago, there was a man who liked to think like a philosopher and kept many monkeys at home, feeding them every day.
宠物chǒngwùpet
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour.
相处xiāngchǔto get along (with one another)
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour.
彼此bǐcǐeach other
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour.
表情biǎoqíng(facial) expression
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour.
行为xíngwéibehavior
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour.
对方duìfāngthe other side, the other party
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour.
蔬菜shūcàivegetable
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
粮食liángshígrain, cereal food
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
家庭jiātíngfamily
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
财产cáichǎnproperty, fortune
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
消费xiāofèito consume
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
节省jiéshěngto save, to economize
为了节省，他决定给猴子定下限制：清晨给三颗橡子，入夜再给四颗橡子。
To save money, he decided to limit the monkeys’ acorns to three in the morning and four at night.
限制xiànzhìto limit, to restrict
为了节省，他决定给猴子定下限制：清晨给三颗橡子，入夜再给四颗橡子。
To save money, he decided to limit the monkeys’ acorns to three in the morning and four at night.
猪zhūpig
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
调皮tiáopíadj. naughty, mischievous
这群猴子平时就调皮，听完个个格外不高兴，觉得这是吃亏的安排，叫个不停，连动作也显得急躁。
淘气táoqìadj. naughty, mischievous
这则故事不只说猴子淘气；它提醒人们，遇到数字和说法时，要看完整情景，不该只盯着眼前的一点内容。
橡子xiàngziacorn
为了节省，他决定给猴子定下限制：清晨给三颗橡子，入夜再给四颗橡子。
To save money, he decided to limit the monkeys’ acorns to three in the morning and four at night.
果实guǒshífruit
主人这句话立刻安慰了猴子，它们不再吵闹，还发出哈哈的笑声，似乎以为得到了更多果实。
That sentence at once comforted the monkeys; they settled down and even chattered happily, seeming to think they had gained more fruit.
不足bùzúadj./v. insufficient; to be less than
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
倒dàoadv. indicating being contrary to what is expected or thought
主人想了想，把说法颠倒过来：要不清晨改为四颗，夜里则是三颗？
The owner thought for a moment and reversed the proposal: what about four in the morning and three at night?
馒头mántousteamed bun
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too.
颗kēm. used for things small and roundish
为了节省，他决定给猴子定下限制：清晨给三颗橡子，入夜再给四颗橡子。
To save money, he decided to limit the monkeys’ acorns to three in the morning and four at night.
似乎sìhūadv. it seems that...; seemingly
主人这句话立刻安慰了猴子，它们不再吵闹，还发出哈哈的笑声，似乎以为得到了更多果实。
That sentence at once comforted the monkeys; they settled down and even chattered happily, seeming to think they had gained more fruit.
吃亏chīkuīto suffer losses
这群猴子平时就调皮，听完个个格外不高兴，觉得这是吃亏的安排，叫个不停，连动作也显得急躁。
方式fāngshìway, method
可是把每天的总数完整地算下来，仍然是七颗，总数并没有改变，分配方式也只是换了个说法。
Yet when the complete daily total was counted, it was still seven, so the total had not changed; the allocation had only been described differently.
安慰ānwèito comfort, to console
主人这句话立刻安慰了猴子，它们不再吵闹，还发出哈哈的笑声，似乎以为得到了更多果实。
That sentence at once comforted the monkeys; they settled down and even chattered happily, seeming to think they had gained more fruit.
要不yàobuconj. otherwise, or else
主人想了想，把说法颠倒过来：要不清晨改为四颗，夜里则是三颗？
The owner thought for a moment and reversed the proposal: what about four in the morning and three at night?
显得xiǎndeto seem, to appear
这群猴子平时就调皮，听完个个格外不高兴，觉得这是吃亏的安排，叫个不停，连动作也显得急躁。
格外géwàiadv. especially, extraordinarily
这群猴子平时就调皮，听完个个格外不高兴，觉得这是吃亏的安排，叫个不停，连动作也显得急躁。
情景qíngjǐngscene, sight
这则故事不只说猴子淘气；它提醒人们，遇到数字和说法时，要看完整情景，不该只盯着眼前的一点内容。
哈hāonom./int. sound of laughter indicating complacency or satisfaction
主人这句话立刻安慰了猴子，它们不再吵闹，还发出哈哈的笑声，似乎以为得到了更多果实。
That sentence at once comforted the monkeys; they settled down and even chattered happily, seeming to think they had gained more fruit.
Listen to the text
“朝三暮四”是一个固定结构的成语，也是一则寓言。它后来常用来形容人反复改变说法，却没有改变实质。
“ zhāosān mùsì” shì yī gè gùdìng jiégòu de chéng yǔ， yě shì yī zé yùyán。 tā hòu lái cháng yòng lái xíng róng rén fǎn fù gǎi biàn shuō fǎ， què méi yǒu gǎi biàn shí zhì。
‘Three in the morning and four at night’ is an idiom with a fixed form and also a fable. It later came to describe repeatedly changing one’s wording without changing the substance.
这个说法所用的词汇表面简单，整体意思却要放在一起综合理解。若只把“朝”和“暮”分开看，很容易错过故事真正讨论的选择。
zhè gè shuō fǎ suǒ yòng de cíhuì biǎo miàn jiǎn dān， zhěngtǐ yì sī què yào fàng zài yī qǐ zōnghé lǐ jiě。 ruò zhǐ bǎ“ zhāo” hé“ mù” fēn kāi kàn， hěn róng yì cuò guò gù shì zhēn zhèng tǎo lùn de xuǎn zé。
The vocabulary used in the phrase looks simple, but its overall meaning needs to be understood as a whole. If we separate ‘morning’ and ‘evening’, we can easily miss the choice the story is really examining.
从前有个像哲学家一样爱思考的人，家里养着许多只猴子，日日由他喂养。这个小群体中，不同猴子会为同一件小事争论。
cóng qián yǒu gè xiàng zhéxuéjiā yī yàng ài sī kǎo de rén， jiā lǐ yǎng zhe xǔ duō zhǐ hóuzi， rì rì yóu tā wèiyǎng。 zhè gè xiǎo qún tǐ zhōng， bù tóng hóuzi huì wèi tóng yī jiàn xiǎo shì zhēng lùn。
Long ago, there was a man who liked to think like a philosopher and kept many monkeys at home, feeding them every day. In this small group, different monkeys would argue over the same small matter.
他把那些猴子视作宠物，多年相处之后很熟悉彼此，也懂得观察对方的表情与行为。因此，他知道怎样安抚一群不安的动物。
tā bǎ nà xiē hóuzi shì zuò chǒngwù， duō nián xiāngchǔ zhī hòu hěn shú xī bǐcǐ， yě dǒng dé guān chá duìfāng de biǎoqíng yǔ xíngwéi。 yīn cǐ， tā zhī dào zěn yàng ān fǔ yī qún bù ān de dòng wù。
He treated the monkeys as pets and, after living with them for a long time, knew them well and understood how to observe their expressions and behaviour. He therefore knew how to calm an unsettled group of animals.
家里的蔬菜、粮食和馒头都不足，这个家庭的财产也经不起无限消费：院子里还养着一头猪、一群鸡，每天同样要喂。主人必须安排有限的资源。
jiā lǐ de shūcài、 liángshí hé mántou dōu bùzú， zhè gè jiātíng de cáichǎn yě jīng bù qǐ wú xiàn xiāofèi： yuàn zi lǐ hái yǎng zhe yī tóu zhū、 yī qún jī， měi tiān tóng yàng yào wèi。 zhǔ rén bì xū ān pái yǒu xiàn de zī yuán。
There were not many vegetables, grain, or steamed buns in the house, and the family's property could not stand unlimited drain: a pig and a flock of chickens were kept in the yard, and they had to eat every day too. The owner had to arrange limited resources.
为了节省，他决定给猴子定下限制：清晨给三颗橡子，入夜再给四颗橡子。他说明这样分配以后，每天仍能保证每只猴子有食物。
wèi le jiéshěng， tā jué dìng gěi hóuzi dìng xià xiànzhì： qīng chén gěi sān kē xiàngzi， rù yè zài gěi sì kē xiàngzi。 tā shuō míng zhè yàng fēn pèi yǐ hòu， měi tiān réng néng bǎo zhèng měi zhǐ hóuzi yǒu shí wù。
To save money, he decided to limit the monkeys’ acorns to three in the morning and four at night. He explained that this division would still ensure food for every monkey each day.
这群猴子平时就调皮，听完个个格外不高兴，觉得这是吃亏的安排，叫个不停，连动作也显得急躁。它们只记得早上少了一颗，并没有耐心算完一天。
zhè qún hóuzi píng shí jiù tiáopí， tīng wán gè gè géwài bù gāo xīng， jué dé zhè shì chīkuī de ān pái， jiào gè bù tíng， lián dòng zuò yě xiǎnde jí zào。 tā men zhǐ jì dé zǎo shàng shǎo le yī kē， bìng méi yǒu nài xīn suàn wán yī tiān。
These monkeys were mischievous at the best of times. Hearing this they all looked unhappy, felt they were losing out, and cried without stopping. They remembered only the missing morning acorn and did not patiently count the entire day.
主人想了想，把说法颠倒过来：要不清晨改为四颗，夜里则是三颗？他没有增加任何橡子，只把数字出现的次序换了一下。
zhǔ rén xiǎng le xiǎng， bǎ shuō fǎ diān dào guò lái： yàobu qīng chén gǎi wèi sì kē， yè lǐ zé shì sān kē？ tā méi yǒu zēng jiā rèn hé xiàngzi， zhǐ bǎ shù zì chū xiàn de cì xù huàn le yī xià。
The owner thought for a moment and reversed the proposal: what about four in the morning and three at night? He added no acorns at all, only changed the order in which the numbers appeared.
主人这句话立刻安慰了猴子，它们不再吵闹，还发出哈哈的笑声，似乎以为得到了更多果实。它们的情绪变好，是因为新的说法听起来更有利。
zhǔ rén zhè jù huà lì kè ānwèi le hóuzi， tā men bù zài chǎo nào， hái fā chū hā hā de xiào shēng， sìhū yǐ wèi dé dào le gèng duō guǒshí。 tā men de qíng xù biàn hǎo， shì yīn wèi xīn de shuō fǎ tīng qǐ lái gèng yǒu lì。
That sentence at once comforted the monkeys; they settled down and even chattered happily, seeming to think they had gained more fruit. Their mood improved because the new wording sounded more favourable.
可是把每天的总数完整地算下来，仍然是七颗，总数并没有改变，分配方式也只是换了个说法。早一点得到或晚一点得到，并不能改变它们占有的数量。
kě shì bǎ měi tiān de zǒng shù wánzhěng dì suàn xià lái， réng rán shì qī kē， zǒng shù bìng méi yǒu gǎi biàn， fēn pèi fāngshì yě zhǐ shì huàn le gè shuō fǎ。 zǎo yī diǎn dé dào huò wǎn yī diǎn dé dào， bìng bù néng gǎi biàn tā men zhàn yǒu de shù liàng。
Yet when the complete daily total was counted, it was still seven, so the total had not changed; the allocation had only been described differently. Receiving something earlier or later did not change the amount they possessed.
这则故事不只说猴子淘气；它提醒人们，遇到数字和说法时，要看完整情景，不该只盯着眼前的一点内容。真正合理的判断，要同时比较条件、结果和长期影响。
zhè zé gù shì bù zhǐ shuō hóuzi táoqì； tā tí xǐng rén men， yù dào shù zì hé shuō fǎ shí， yào kàn wánzhěng qíngjǐng， bù gāi zhǐ dīng zhe yǎn qián de yī diǎn nèi róng。 zhēn zhèng hé lǐ de pàn duàn， yào tóng shí bǐ jiào tiáo jiàn、 jié guǒ hé zhǎng qī yǐng xiǎng。
The story is not only about naughty monkeys. It reminds us that when we meet numbers and claims, we should look at the whole situation rather than fixate on one small thing in front of us. A sound judgment compares conditions, results, and long-term effects together.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
主人想了想，把说法颠倒过来：要不清晨改为四颗，夜里则是三颗？The owner thought for a moment and reversed the proposal: what about four in the morning and three at night?
倒+ Verb/Adjective
倒. '倒' as an adverb indicates something is contrary to what is expected or thought. It can express concession, affirmation despite expectation, or impatience.
在其他粮食不足的情况下，用橡子喂猴子倒是个办法。
Zài qítā liángshí bùzú de qíngkuàng xià, yòng xiàngzi wèi hóuzi dào shì ge bànfǎ.
When other grain is insufficient, using acorns to feed monkeys is actually a good solution.
它后来常用来形容人反复改变说法，却没有改变实质。It later came to describe repeatedly changing one’s wording without changing the substance.
Verb +来+ Verb +去
……来……去. '来...去' indicates repetition of an action, often with the same verb before 来 and 去.
小狗追着自己的尾巴，在草地上跑来跑去。
Xiǎo gǒu zhuīzhe zìjǐ de wěiba, zài cǎodì shàng pǎolái pǎoqù.
The puppy chased its own tail, running back and forth on the grass.
主人想了想，把说法颠倒过来：要不清晨改为四颗，夜里则是三颗？The owner thought for a moment and reversed the proposal: what about four in the morning and three at night?
要不+ Alternative clause
要不. '要不/要不然' is a conjunction meaning 'otherwise' or 'or else'. It introduces an alternative or consequence.
老太太说：'4块，要不我不卖。'
Lǎo tàitai shuō: '4 kuài, yàobu wǒ bú mài.'
The old lady said: '4 yuan, otherwise I won't sell.'
Which word means “fable”?
Culture
词汇的语义变化 - Semantic Changes in Vocabulary
The meanings of words change along with social life. Some old words keep their central meaning but gain new uses in new settings, while others gradually leave everyday language. Such change does not mean that language is confused; instead, it shows that people keep encountering new things and new relationships. When learning vocabulary, one should remember not only dictionary definitions but also the speaker, the setting, and the historical background. Understanding these differences helps us understand others' speech more accurately and express our own ideas more clearly and naturally.
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朝 from 朝三暮四 · to give three in the morning and four in the evening—to play fast and loose
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Practice
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