Chinese word

见风使舵

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiàn fēng shǐ duò

Meaning

  • idiomchange one's tune

Example

在公众面前他会见风使舵。zài gōng zhòng miàn qián tā huì jiàn fēng shǐ duò

In public, he changes his tune.

Illustration for 见风使舵 (change one's tune)

More examples

为了升职，他在职场上常常见风使舵。wèi le shēng zhí tā zài zhí chǎng shàng cháng cháng jiàn fēng shǐ duò

To get promoted, he often changes his tune at work.

Core concept

Someone lets the surrounding situation steer their stance instead of keeping a steady course.

Common phrases

  • 常常见风使舵cháng cháng jiàn fēng shǐ duò

    often change one's tune

  • 在职场上见风使舵zài zhí chǎng shàng jiàn fēng shǐ duò

    change one's tune at work

  • 为了利益见风使舵wèi le lì yì jiàn fēng shǐ duò

    change one's tune for personal gain

Similar words

见机行事jiàn jī xíng shì: Choosing what to do according to the situation or the chance available.
随机应变suí jī yìng biàn: Adapting one's actions quickly and skillfully when unexpected changes arise.

Definition in Chinese

根据形势或他人态度改变自己的主张或行为，通常含有投机、迎合的贬义。gēn jù xíng shì huò tā rén tài dù gǎi biàn zì jǐ de zhǔ zhāng huò xíng wéi tōng cháng hán yǒu tóu jī yíng hé de biǎn yì

Word origin

见风使舵 (jiànfēngshǐduò, "see the wind and use the rudder") compares a sailor changing course with the wind to a person changing position with circumstances.

Usage tips

  • Using this idiom about a colleague in a meeting is openly critical, so it does not suit a neutral report of a change based on new evidence.

Other meanings

  • pander to othersidiom
  • side with the winneridiom

Opposites

  • 言行一致yán xíng yí zhìmatch words with actionsidiom

Word lists with this word