改过自新 gǎi guò zì xīn reform oneself

Explanation

指改正错误，重新做人。

To correct mistakes and start a new life.

Origin Story

西汉时期，名医淳于意因犯法被捕，面临严厉的处罚。他的女儿缇萦不忍心父亲受苦，毅然向汉文帝上书，陈述父亲想改过自新的决心，并指出严刑峻法只会让罪犯失去改过自新的机会，反而会造成更大的社会危害。缇萦的真挚情感和深刻见解深深打动了汉文帝，他最终赦免了淳于意，并下令废除一些残酷的刑罚。从此以后，改过自新不再只是一个简单的愿望，而成为了一种社会共识，鼓励人们勇于面对错误，重新开始，追求更好的未来。这个故事也让后人对缇萦的孝心和勇敢，以及她对法律和社会进步的贡献，赞誉有加。

xī hàn shí qī, míng yī chún yú yì yīn fàn fǎ bèi bǔ, miàn lín yán lì de chǔ fá. tā de nǚ'ér tí yíng bù rěn xīn fù qīn shòu kǔ, yì rán xiàng hàn wén dì shàng shū, chén shù fù qīn xiǎng gǎi guò zì xīn de jué xīn, bìng zhǐ chū yán xíng jùn fǎ zhǐ huì ràng zuì fàn shī qù gǎi guò zì xīn de jī huì, fǎn ér huì zào chéng gèng dà de shè huì wēi hài. tí yíng de zhēn zhì qíng gǎn hé shēn kè jiàn jiě shēn shēn dǎ dòng le hàn wén dì, tā zuì zhōng shè miǎn le chún yú yì, bìng xià lìng fèi chú yī xiē cán kù de xíng fá. cóng cǐ yǐ hòu, gǎi guò zì xīn bù zài zhǐ shì yīgè jiǎn dān de yuàn wàng, ér chéng wéi le yī zhǒng shè huì gòng shí, gǔ lì rén men yǒng yú miàn duì cuò wù, chóngxīn kāishǐ, zhuī qiú gèng hǎo de wèi lái. zhège gù shì yě ràng hòu rén duì tí yíng de xiào xīn hé yǒng gǎn, yǐ jí tā duì fǎ lǜ hé shè huì jìn bù de gòng xiàn, zàn yù yǒu jiā.

During the Western Han Dynasty, Chunyu Yi, a renowned physician, was arrested for breaking the law and faced severe punishment. His daughter, Ti Ying, unwilling to see her father suffer, boldly wrote a letter to Emperor Wen Di, expressing her father's determination to reform and emphasizing that harsh punishments only deprive criminals of the chance for self-improvement, causing greater social harm. Ti Ying's heartfelt emotions and insightful understanding deeply moved Emperor Wen Di, leading him to pardon Chunyu Yi and abolish some cruel punishments. From then on, self-improvement became not just a wish but a social consensus, encouraging people to bravely confront their mistakes, start anew, and pursue a brighter future. The story earns continued praise for Ti Ying's filial piety, courage, and contributions to legal and societal advancement.

Usage

形容改正错误，重新做人。

xiáoróng gǎizhèng cuòwù, chóngxīn zuò rén

Describes correcting mistakes and starting a new life.

Examples

• 他犯了错误之后，痛改前非，重新做人。

  ta fan le cuòwù zhīhòu, tòng gǎi qián fēi, chóngxīn zuò rén.

  After making mistakes, he repented and started anew.

• 虽然他犯了很大的错误，但他决心改过自新，重新开始。

  suīrán tā fàn le hěn dà de cuòwù, dàn tā juéxīn gǎi guò zì xīn, chóngxīn kāishǐ.

  Despite his big mistake, he decided to turn over a new leaf and start again.

Related Idioms

• 改邪归正

• 痛改前非

• 改过迁善

Opposite Idioms

• 冥顽不灵

• 执迷不悟