3 kg of acorns in the morning and 4 kg of acorns in the evening(朝三暮四)
Zhuang Zhou, one of the most famous thinkers and philosophers in Chinese history, wrote a story.
There was a man who raised many monkeys, and these monkeys gave birth to many baby monkeys. His financial burden was getting heavier and heavier, so he wanted to save some money.
One day he said to all the monkeys.
From today, I will change the amount of food I give you. I will give you three kilos of acorns for breakfast every morning and four kilos of acorns for dinner every evening.
Do you think that's good?
All the monkeys shouted angrily.
It doesn't fill us up, and we can't accept having less food every day.
He thought for a few minutes and then said to the monkeys.
I respect your opinions and have decided to give you four kilos of acorns for breakfast every morning and three kilos of acorns for dinner every evening.
Are you happy with my decision?
Said the monkeys happily.
After our protest, you increased the breakfast portion from three to four kilograms, and we are very pleased with the result.
Literally translated, this idiom means three kilograms of acorns in the morning and four kilograms of acorns in the evening.
This idiom was originally used to describe a person who deceives others with words.
It is now used to describe a person who changes his mind and attitude very quickly; this person is not very decisive.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts do you have after listening to this story?
Have you ever been deceived by someone else's rhetoric? Do you easily change your position because of someone else's insistence?
I hope this story can give you some new insights.
此圖片來自維基百科
朝三暮四(3 kg of acorns in the morning and 4
kg of acorns in the evening)
莊周是中國歷史上最著名的思想家與哲學家之一，他寫過一個故事。
有一個人養了很多猴子，這些猴子又生了很多小猴子，他的經濟負擔愈來愈大，他便想要節省一些支出。
有一天，他對對所有的猴子說。
從今天開始我會調整給你們吃的食物的份量，我每天早上會給你們三公斤的橡實當早餐，每天晚上給你們四公斤的橡實當晚餐。
你們覺得好嗎?
所有的猴子很生氣地大喊。
這樣我們吃不飽，我們無法接受我們每天吃的糧食變少。
他思考了幾分鐘後對這些猴子說。
我尊重你們的意見，我決定把每天早上給你們四公斤的橡實當早餐，每天晚上給你們三公斤的橡實當晚餐。
我這樣調整你們覺得滿意嗎?
這些猴子很開心的說。
經過我們的抗議所以你把早餐的份量從原本的三公斤調高到四公斤，我們非常滿意這個結果。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是早上三公斤橡實晚上四公斤橡實。
這句成語原本是被用來形容一個人用話術欺騙別人。
這句成語目前被用來形容一個人很快的改變自已的想法與立場，這個人的意志很不堅定。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你曾經被別人的話術所欺騙嗎?你會因為別人的堅持而輕易改變自已的立場嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為莊子-齊物論
https://ctext.org/zhuangzi/adjustment-of-controversies/zh
2025/02/01更新