迷途知返
mí tú zhī fǎn
to see one’s error and turn back; to mend one’s ways
Character by character
迷mí
lost
lost
途tú
way
way
知zhī
know
know
返fǎn
return
return
Example
他年轻时走过弯路，好在迷途知返，后来成了一名好医生。
He went astray when he was young, but he saw his mistake and turned back, and later became a fine doctor.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Almost always about conduct, not real roads: leaving crime, gambling or a bad habit behind. Often in 迷途知返，为时不晚 (it is not too late to turn back); the reading aims it at hikers still planning an illegal crossing, with a nod to the literal sense. The opposite is 执迷不悟, to persist in one’s error.
Learn this in Lesson 145 · HSK 7–9: 鳌太线 (The Aotai trail)
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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