喜新厌旧

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: xǐ xīn yàn jiù
• English Translation: To love the new and loathe the old (fickle)
• Idiom Composition: 「喜」（To like or love）＋「新」（New things or people）＋「厌」（To loathe or get tired of）＋「旧」（Old things or people）
• Meaning: To be attracted to new things or people while becoming bored with or discarding the old. It is generally used as a derogatory term to criticize a fickle nature or unfaithfulness in relationships.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「喜新厌旧」 contains the following nuances:

• Infidelity in Relationships: The most frequent context is romance or marriage. It refers to the attitude of neglecting an existing partner because one has become infatuated with someone new.
• Fickleness with Objects or Trends: Beyond human relationships, it describes a personality that quickly tires of possessions (like clothes or gadgets) or hobbies, always chasing the next trend.

3. Usage

「喜新厌旧」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Romantic Infidelity: Used to criticize someone who abandons a partner for someone new or changes romantic interests frequently.
  • Example:「他是个喜新厌旧的人，见一个爱一个，从来没有长久的感情。」
    （He is fickle in his affections, falling for every person he meets and never maintaining a long-term relationship.）
• Consumer Behavior: Used to describe people who constantly upgrade to the latest products or change hobbies frequently, often with a tone of disapproval.
  • Example:「现在的消费者大多喜新厌旧，手机才用了一年就要换新款。」
    （Most consumers today constantly crave the new, wanting to replace their phones with the latest model after only a year.）
• Self-Reflection or Joking: Can be used self-deprecatingly to describe one's own tendency to get bored easily.
  • Example:「我承认我有点喜新厌旧，这件衣服买回来穿了一次就不想穿了。」
    （I admit I'm a bit prone to getting bored with things; I bought this shirt, wore it once, and already don't want to wear it again.）

Additional Examples:

1. 在这个快节奏的时代，喜新厌旧似乎成了一种普遍的心态。
   （In this fast-paced era, constantly seeking the new seems to have become a universal mindset.）
2. 你不能因为喜新厌旧就抛弃陪伴你多年的老朋友。
   （You shouldn't abandon an old friend who has been with you for years just because you prefer someone new.）
3. 这家公司为了迎合顾客喜新厌旧的心理，不断推出新包装。
   （To cater to the customers' fickle tastes, this company constantly releases new packaging.）
4. 由于他喜新厌旧的毛病，家里的旧玩具堆积如山。
   （Because of his bad habit of always wanting the latest thing, old toys are piled high in his house.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase is found in the Qing Dynasty (清朝) novel A Tale of Heroic Sons and Daughters (儿女英雄传), where it describes a character's fickle heart.
• Traditional Chinese morality places high value on loyalty to long-standing relationships. This is exemplified by the concept of 糟糠之妻 (zāo kāng zhī qī), referring to a wife who shared her husband's poverty and should never be discarded. Thus, 喜新厌旧 (xǐ xīn yàn jiù) is a strong moral criticism.
• In modern marketing contexts, the term is sometimes used more objectively to describe the 'fickle psychology' of consumers who drive the demand for new products.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 见异思迁 (jiàn yì sī qiān): To change one's mind as soon as one sees something different; to be inconstant.
  • 朝三暮四 (zhāo sān mù sì): To change one's mind frequently; to be indecisive or play fast and loose.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 坚定不移 (jiān dìng bù yí): Firm and unshakable; to be steadfast in one's will.
  • 忠贞不渝 (zhōng zhēn bù yú): Unswerving loyalty; to remain faithful and never change.
  • 死心塌地 (sǐ xīn tā dì): To be absolutely loyal and devoted, without any change of heart.link
  • 一如既往 (yī rú jì wǎng): Just as in the past; as before; as always.link

6. Summary

喜新厌旧 (xǐ xīn yàn jiù) literally means "to love the new and loathe the old." It is primarily used to criticize unfaithfulness or fickleness in romantic relationships. In modern contexts, it also describes the consumer psychology of constantly chasing new products or a general tendency to get bored easily with possessions.