📖 Meaning
To correct one's erroneous thoughts and change one's wrong behavior. It describes a genuine inner transformation where a person abandons past mistakes and adopts a reformed attitude and way of acting.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from Xin Shu (New Book) by Jia Yi of the Han Dynasty, in the chapter 'Xian Xing' (Awakening First). Jia Yi recounts how a ruler, upon realizing his past failings, resolved to reform his mind and change his conduct. He thereafter wore coarse cloth, ate simple food, studied the Way by day and discussed it by evening. The phrase later came to symbolize sincere self-correction of both thought and action.
💡 Example Usage
经过这次教训，他决心革心易行，重新做人。
After this lesson, he resolved to reform his mind and change his ways, starting life anew.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 革心易行
- Pinyin: gé xīn yì xíng
- Literal Translation: reform mind, change conduct
- Category: Recovery
- Characters: 4