弃旧图新 qì jiù tú xīn abandon the old, seek the new

Explanation

指抛弃旧的，寻求新的事物或方法。多指思想、方法、制度、生活方式等方面由旧的、落后的转向新的、先进的。

Refers to abandoning the old and seeking new things or methods. It mostly refers to aspects such as thoughts, methods, systems, and lifestyles, where one shifts from old, backward ones to new, advanced ones.

Origin Story

话说古代，有个老农辛辛苦苦种了一辈子地，用的都是祖传的农具和方法，收成一直很低。有一天，他偶然看到城里人用上了先进的农机，效率高，收成好，心里羡慕不已。他下定决心，要抛弃落后的耕作方式，学习新的技术。于是，他开始四处求学，认真学习新的农业知识和技能。经过几年的努力，他终于掌握了现代农业技术，并购置了新的农机。第二年，他的收成比以往翻了好几番，生活也过得越来越好。他感慨地说：“这真是弃旧图新，好日子才刚刚开始啊！”

huì shuō gǔdài yǒu ge lǎo nóng xīn xīn kǔ kǔ zhòng le yībèizi dì yòng de dōu shì zǔ chuán de nóng jù hé fāngfǎ shōuchéng yī zhí hěn dī yǒu yī tiān tā ǒurán kàn dào chéng lǐ rén yòng shang le xiānjìn de nóng jī xiàolǜ gāo shōuchéng hǎo xīn lǐ xiànmù bù yǐ tā xià dìng jué xīn yào pāoqì luòhòu de gēng zuò fāngshì xuéxí xīn de jìshù yúshì tā kāishǐ sì chù qiú xué rènzhēn xuéxí xīn de nóngyè zhīshì hé jìnéng jīngguò jǐ nián de nǔlì tā zhōngyú zhǎngwò le xiàndài nóngyè jìshù bìng gòuzhì le xīn de nóng jī dì èr nián tā de shōuchéng bǐ yǐ wǎng fān le hǎo jǐ fān shēnghuó yě guò de yuè lái yuè hǎo tā gǎnkǎi de shuō zhè zhēn shì qì jiù tú xīn hǎo rìzi cái gānggāng kāishǐ a

Once upon a time, there was an old farmer who had worked hard on his land for his whole life, using only the traditional farming tools and methods passed down from his ancestors. His harvests were always meager. One day, he accidentally saw city dwellers using advanced farm machinery with high efficiency and good harvests. He was envious. He decided to abandon his backward farming methods and learn new technologies. So, he started searching for learning opportunities everywhere and diligently studying new agricultural knowledge and skills. After several years of hard work, he finally mastered modern agricultural technology and purchased new farm machinery. The following year, his harvest was several times higher than before, and his life became increasingly better. He exclaimed with emotion: “This is truly abandoning the old and seeking the new – the good times have only just begun!”

Usage

用于比喻抛弃旧的事物，寻求新的事物或方法，也指改过自新，开始新的生活。

yòng yú bǐ yù pāoqì jiù de shìwù xúnqiú xīn de shìwù huò fāngfǎ yě zhǐ gǎiguò zì xīn kāishǐ xīn de shēnghuó

Used to describe abandoning old things and seeking new things or methods, and also to refer to self-improvement and a new beginning.

Examples

• 他痛改前非，弃旧图新，决心重新做人。

  tā tòng gǎi qián fēi qì jiù tú xīn jué xīn chóng xīn zuò rén

  He repented of his past mistakes, turned over a new leaf, and determined to start a new life.

• 这个公司正在弃旧图新，引进新的管理模式。

  zhège gōngsī zhèngzài qì jiù tú xīn yǐn jìn xīn de guǎnlǐ móshì

  The company is abandoning the old and seeking the new, introducing a new management model.

Related Idioms

• 革故鼎新

• 推陈出新

Opposite Idioms

• 墨守成规

• 因循守旧