朝令暮改

• Reading: ちょうれいぼかい
• Romaji: choreibokai
• Kanji breakdown: 朝 (cho/asa) — morning; 令 (rei) — order, command; 暮 (bo/ku) — evening, dusk; 改 (kai/arata) — change, revise
• Pronunciation: /tɕoː.ɾeː.bo.kai/

Meaning

Frequent policy changes; inconsistency; flip-flopping. The practice of issuing orders in the morning and revising them by evening — a criticism of erratic leadership.

A yojijukugo (four-character idiom) used to criticise organisations or leaders whose directives change so rapidly that subordinates cannot keep up. Originates from Han Shu (漢書), an ancient Chinese historical text. Always carries a negative connotation and implies a lack of reliable vision.

Examples

1. 朝令暮改が続く経営方針に社員は振り回されている。 Employees are being led astray by management policies that keep changing from one day to the next.
2. 朝令暮改では組織の信頼が失われる。 With constant flip-flopping, an organisation loses trust.
3. 政府の朝令暮改に企業側が対応しきれなかった。 Businesses were unable to keep up with the government's ever-changing directives.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, corporate management, criticism

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Classical Chinese origin, appearing in 漢書 (Han Shu). 朝 (morning) + 令 (order) + 暮 (evening) + 改 (change). Orders issued at dawn are altered by dusk.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Intellectual