English Original
In the Spring and Autumn Period, a man in the state of Song raised monkeys who could understand his words. As he grew poor, he decided to reduce their food. He first proposed giving them three acorns in the morning and four in the evening. The monkeys protested angrily. The man then asked, "How about four in the morning and three in the evening?" The monkeys were satisfied.
This idiom originally described deceiving others with a trick. Later, it came to mean being fickle or constantly changing one's mind.
中文翻译
春秋时期，宋国有个养猴人，他养的猴子能听懂他的话。由于家境变穷，他想减少猴子的食物。他先提议早上给猴子三个橡子，晚上给四个。猴子们愤怒地抗议。养猴人便问：“那早上四个，晚上三个，如何？”猴子们对此感到满意。
这个成语最初意指用诡计欺骗他人。后来，它被用来形容一个人反复无常、主意多变。