君くん子し豹ひょう変へん

noun

a wise person adapts quickly to change; a wise person readily corrects their mistakes

Original Confucian meaning: a superior person is flexible and quick to improve. Used in formal or literary contexts.

• 君くん子し豹ひょう変へんという言こと葉ばは、本ほん来らいは優すぐれた人じん物ぶつが過あやまちをすぐに改あらためることを称たたえるものだ。

  The phrase 君子豹変 originally praises a superior person who quickly corrects their mistakes.

noun

a wise person changes their attitude without hesitation

Modern colloquial use, often ironic or self-justifying, implying a sudden change of opinion or behavior for convenience. Frequently used as an excuse for inconsistency.

• 昨日きのうまで反はん対たいしていたのに、急きゅうに賛さん成せいするなんて、まさに君くん子し豹ひょう変へんだね。

  You were against it until yesterday, and now you suddenly agree—that's a real 君子豹変, isn't it?

• 「君くん子し豹ひょう変へんって言いうでしょ」と彼かれは笑わらって前ぜん言げんを翻ひるがえした。

  He laughed and reversed his earlier statement, saying, 'They say a wise person changes quickly, right?'