放下屠刀 fàng xià tú dāo put down the butcher knife

Explanation

比喻作恶的人决心改过自新。出自佛教典故，指放下杀人的屠刀，立地成佛。

A metaphor for an evildoer's determination to reform. Originating from a Buddhist anecdote, it refers to putting down the butcher knife and instantly becoming a Buddha.

Origin Story

从前，有一个屠夫，每日杀猪宰羊，双手沾满鲜血。一天，他偶然听到一位僧人讲佛法，顿悟人生真谛，决心改过自新。他放下屠刀，皈依佛门，潜心修行，最终证得佛果。从此，放下屠刀的故事广为流传，劝诫世人要改恶从善。

cóng qián, yǒu yīgè túfū, měi rì shā zhū zǎi yáng, shuāng shǒu zhān mǎn xuè xīng. yī tiān, tā ǒu rán tīng dào yī wèi sēng rén jiǎng fó fǎ, dùn wù rén shēng zhēn dì, jué xīn gǎi guò zì xīn. tā fàng xià tú dāo, guī yī fó mén, qián xīn xiū xíng, zuì zhōng zhèng dé fó guǒ. cóng cǐ, fàng xià tú dāo de gùshì guǎng wéi liú chuán, quàn jiè shì rén yào gǎi è cóng shàn

Once upon a time, there was a butcher who slaughtered pigs and sheep every day, his hands stained with blood. One day, he accidentally heard a monk preach Buddhist teachings and suddenly understood the true meaning of life, determining to change his ways. He put down his butcher knife, embraced Buddhism, devoted himself to practice, and eventually attained Buddhahood. From then on, the story of putting down the butcher knife spread far and wide, urging people to abandon evil and do good.

Usage

用于劝诫人改邪归正，弃恶从善。

yòng yú quàn jiè rén gǎi xié guī zhèng, qì è cóng shàn

Used to urge people to turn from evil to good, abandon evil and do good.

Examples

• 他放下屠刀，立地成佛，从此不再沾染罪恶。

  tā fàng xià tú dāo, lì dì chéng fó, cóng cǐ bù zài zhān rǎn zuì è

  He put down the butcher knife, instantly becoming a Buddha, and never touched evil again.

• 放下屠刀，重新做人，这是一个新生的开始。

  fàng xià tú dāo, chóng xīn zuò rén, zhè shì yīgè xīn shēng de kāishǐ

  Putting down the butcher knife and starting life anew marks a fresh beginning.

Related Idioms

• 改过自新

• 痛改前非

Opposite Idioms

• 变本加厉

• 怙恶不悛