转危为安
zhuǎn wēi wéi ān
to pull through; to come out of danger
Character by character
转zhuǎn
turn
turn
危wēi
danger
danger
为wéi
into
into
安ān
safety
safety
Example
经过医生一整夜的抢救，病人终于转危为安。
After the doctors had worked all night to save him, the patient finally pulled through.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Said above all of a patient out of danger, and also of a firm or a crisis that has turned the corner. 为 is wéi here. Close to 化险为夷, which stresses danger avoided rather than recovery.
Learn this in Lesson 156 · HSK 7–9: 与癌共存 (Living with cancer)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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