痛改前非
tòng gǎi qián fēi
to sincerely repent and mend one’s ways
Character by character
痛tòng
thoroughly
thoroughly
改gǎi
correct
correct
前qián
former
former
非fēi
wrongs
wrongs
Example
他赌博输掉了房子，这才痛改前非，从此再也没碰过牌。
Only after gambling away his house did he truly mend his ways; he has never touched a card since.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
For serious wrongdoing such as crime, gambling or addiction, usually with 决心 or 发誓: 决心痛改前非. Used of small faults it sounds comic, as when a teenager swears to give up his phone.
Learn this in Lesson 163 · HSK 7–9: 戒不掉的瘾 (The habits we cannot break)
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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