失而复得
shī ér fù dé
to get back something that was lost
Character by character
失shī
lose
lose
而ér
and then
and then
复fù
again
again
得dé
obtain
obtain
Example
丢了的钱包被好心人送了回来，这种失而复得的感觉真好。
A kind stranger brought back the wallet I had lost, and getting it back felt wonderful.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
复 is classical for “again”. Said of things, chances and people: 失而复得的文物, 失而复得的亲情; often as 失而复得的喜悦. Its opposite in feeling is 得而复失, to gain and lose again.
Learn this in Lesson 153 · HSK 7–9: 宝贝回家 (Bringing the children 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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