回头是岸
回头是岸 (huí tóu shì àn) literally means “turn back to the shore” and expresses “repent and be saved”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: hui tou shi an, hui tou shi an,回头是岸 meaning, 回头是岸 in english
Repent and be saved
Pronunciation: huí tóu shì àn Literal meaning: Turn back to the shore
Origin & Usage
Buddhist teaching supplies the picture: the sea of suffering is boundless, and the shore is behind you — 苦海无边，回头是岸. To turn the head (回头) is (是) the shore (岸). What makes the phrase forceful is that no journey is required. The shore is not reached by swimming further but by turning, so the distance to safety is zero at every point, however far out the swimmer has gone. It is said to people who believe they have gone too far to stop, and it is the standard Chinese appeal to someone in the middle of ruining their life.
Examples
English: "Realizing his mistakes, he decided to turn back and seek redemption."
Chinese: 意识到自己的错误后，他决定回头是岸。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
头头是道
tóu tóu shì dào
Logical and organized
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隔岸观火
gé àn guān huǒ
Observe troubles from safe distance
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回味无穷
huí wèi wú qióng
Lingering reflection
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春回大地
chūn huí dà dì
Winter is over and new life returns
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道貌岸然
dào mào àn rán
Hypocritical demeanor
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妙手回春
miào shǒu huí chūn
Extraordinary healing skill
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各行其是
gè xíng qí shì
Disunity in action
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垂头丧气
chuí tóu sàng qì
Dejected; dispirited
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 回头是岸 mean in English?
回头是岸 (huí tóu shì àn) literally translates to “Turn back to the shore” and is used to express “Repent and be saved”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 回头是岸 used?
Situation: Realizing his mistakes, he decided to turn back and seek redemption.
What is the pinyin for 回头是岸?
The pinyin pronunciation for 回头是岸 is “huí tóu shì àn”.