东山再起
dōng shān zài qǐ
to make a comeback after a fall
Character by character
东dōng
east
east
山shān
mountain
mountain
再zài
again
again
起qǐ
rise
rise
Example
生意失败以后，他没有放弃，三年后又东山再起了。
His business failed, but he didn’t give up, and three years later he was back on top.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From 谢安 of the Eastern Jin, who lived in retirement on 东山 before returning to serve as a top minister. Now any comeback, in business, sport or politics.
Learn this in Lesson 84 · HSK 6–7: 九十年代 (The 1990s)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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