南橘北枳

From an analogy in Yanzi chunqiu:

嬰聞之，橘生淮南則為橘，生于淮北則為枳，葉徒相似，其實味不同。所以然者何？水土異也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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婴闻之，橘生淮南则为橘，生于淮北则为枳，叶徒相似，其实味不同。所以然者何？水土异也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3^rd century BCE

Yīng wén zhī, jú shēng huáinán zé wéi jú, shēng yú huái běi zé wéi zhǐ, yè tú xiàngsì, qí shí wèi bùtóng. Suǒyǐ rán zhě hé? Shuǐtǔ yì yě. [Pinyin]

Yan Ying heard that tangerines grown south of the Huai River become mandarin oranges, while those grown in the north become trifoliate oranges. Their leaves are similar, but their flavors are not. So why does this happen? It is because of different environments.

南橘北枳

1. the same thing will change when in different environments

• 淮橘為枳／淮橘为枳 (huáijúwéizhǐ)