淮橘為枳

淮橘为枳
huáijúwéizhǐ

a person or thing changes when in a different environment

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 淮 Huái name of a river
=1 淮 huái
  1. (～河) Huai River
  2. Huai River
  3. a surname
2 橘 jú
  1. mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata)
  2. tangerine
=3 為 wéi
  1. as (in the capacity of)
  2. to take sth as
  3. to act as
  4. to serve as
  5. to behave as
  6. to become
  7. to be
  8. to do
  9. by (in the passive voice)
=3 為 wèi
  1. because of
  2. for
  3. to
4 枳 zhǐ
  1. (orange)
  2. hedge thorn