Definition & Meaning

correct one's errors and make a fresh start; reform oneself

Word usage

gǎi guò zì xīn

改 过 自 新

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Chinese dictionary
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correct one's errors and make a fresh start; reform oneself
- qǐ shì yào gǎi guò zì xīn
  起誓要改过自新
  take the pledge to reform oneself
- tā tíng zhǐ xī dú yǐ jīng gǎi guò zì xīn le
  他停止吸毒，已经改过自新了。
  He's stopped taking drugs and is now a reformed character.
- tā chéng nuò yào gǎi guò zì xīn
  他承诺要改过自新。
  He has promised to reform.
synonym
xǐ xīn gé miàn洗心革面 tòng gǎi qián fēi痛改前非 qì àn tóu míng弃暗投明 huǐ guò zì xīn悔过自新 qì xié guī zhèng弃邪归正 gé miàn xǐ xīn革面洗心 gǎi guò qiān shàn改过迁善 gǎi xíng zì xīn改行自新
antonym
zhí mí bù wù执迷不悟 wán gù bù huà顽固不化 sǐ bù huǐ gǎi死不悔改 sǐ bù gǎi huǐ死不改悔 hù è bù quān怙恶不悛

Word usage

Note
"改过自新" is different from "洗心革面". "改过自新" emphasizes correcting mistakes; "洗心革面" emphasizes thorough repentance from the heart to words and deeds, with heavier meaning.

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