判若两人
pàn ruò liǎng rén
to seem a completely different person
Character by character
判pàn
clearly
clearly
若ruò
like
like
两liǎng
two
two
人rén
people
people
Example
他平时很少说话，一站到台上演讲，却跟平时判若两人。
He hardly says a word normally, but once he is on stage giving a speech he is a different man.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
判 here means clearly distinct. Used of someone changed by illness, success, drink or a role, or of the same person at two moments: 前后判若两人, 和以前判若两人. The change can be for better or worse; the context decides.
Learn this in Lesson 161 · HSK 7–9: 忘了回家的路 (Forgetting the way home)
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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