jú​huà​wéi​zhǐ

to change based on environment

Senses

橘化为枳/ 橘化為枳 jú​huà​wéi​zhǐ to change based on environment

(idiom) a good thing turning bad due to a change in environment; literally, the orange tree becomes a bitter citrus tree when transplanted to the north

References

see 橘化为枳/橘化為枳 晏子春秋/晏子春秋