痛改前非
痛改前非 (tòng gǎi qián fēi) literally means “thoroughly change past wrongs” and expresses “sincerely repent and reform”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: tong gai qian fei, tong gai qian fei,痛改前非 meaning, 痛改前非 in english
Sincerely repent and reform
Pronunciation: tòng gǎi qián fēi Literal meaning: Thoroughly change past wrongs
Origin & Usage
To change (改) former (前) wrongs (非) thoroughly (痛). 痛 is the trap for learners: it is not 'painfully' here but 'completely, right through' — the same sense as in 痛击 and 痛快 — and dictionaries warn specifically against reading pain into it. What the phrase demands is therefore the extent of the reform rather than its emotional cost: not some of the conduct amended, but all of it, and not provisionally. It belongs to formal contexts, to apologies and to accounts of somebody's return from a bad period, and it cannot be used lightly about a small correction.
Examples
English: "After the incident, he resolved to completely change his ways."
Chinese: 事件之后，他决心痛改前非。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fēi
Words differ from thoughts
Learn more →
不痛不痒
bù tòng bù yǎng
Ineffective and inconsequential
Learn more →
大公无私
dà gōng wú sī
Completely impartial without self-interest
Learn more →
鞠躬尽瘁
jū gōng jìn cuì
Devote oneself completely; work until exhausted
Learn more →
与众不同
yǔ zhòng bù tóng
Unique; distinctive
Learn more →
妄自菲薄
wàng zì fěi bó
Underestimate oneself; excessive self-deprecation
Learn more →
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
Learn more →
改天换地
gǎi tiān huàn dì
Profound transformation
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 痛改前非 mean in English?
痛改前非 (tòng gǎi qián fēi) literally translates to “Thoroughly change past wrongs” and is used to express “Sincerely repent and reform”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 痛改前非 used?
Situation: After the incident, he resolved to completely change his ways.
What is the pinyin for 痛改前非?
The pinyin pronunciation for 痛改前非 is “tòng gǎi qián fēi”.