改头换面

改頭換面
gǎitóu-huànmiàn
idiom #11,204

Meanings

  1. 1 to put on a new appearance but remain the same underneath
  2. 2 to give sth a facelift
  3. 3 to repackage

Examples

HSK 5
Zhè jiā cāntīng gǎitóu-huànmiàn chóngxīn kāiyè le.
This restaurant reopened with a whole new look.
HSK 5
Tā zhǐshì gǎitóu-huànmiàn, běnzhì méiyǒu biàn.
He just changed his appearance; his true nature hasn't changed.

Tips

usage
Often derogatory in mainland China - implies superficial change while the essence stays the same. In Taiwan, it can be used neutrally to mean a genuine transformation.
memory
改 (change) + 头 (head) + 换 (swap) + 面 (face) = change the head, swap the face - a cosmetic makeover that doesn't go deeper.

Stroke Order

改 gǎi
头 tóu
换 huàn
面 miàn