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朝令夕改

zhāo lìng xī gǎidictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to make frequent or unpredictable changes in policy (idiom)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-1b19fa266e918e6e. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

朝令夕改 朝令夕改 [zhao1 ling4 xi1 gai3] /to make frequent or unpredictable changes in policy (idiom)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 朝
    cháo

    imperial or royal court / government / dynasty / reign of a sovereign or emperor / court or assembly held by a sovereign or emperor / to make a pilgrimage to / facing / towards

    zhāo

    morning

    Cháo

    abbr. for 朝鮮|朝鲜[Cháo xiǎn] Korea

  • 令
    líng

    used in 脊令[jí líng] / used in 令狐[Líng hú] (Taiwan pr. [lìng])

    lǐng

    classifier for a ream of paper

    lìng

    to order / to command / an order / warrant / writ / to cause / to make sth happen / virtuous / honorific title / season / government position (old) / type of short song or poem

  • 夕
    xī

    (bound form) sunset / dusk / (bound form) evening / night / Taiwan pr. [xì]

  • 改
    gǎi

    to change / to alter / to transform / to correct

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.