改邪归正

改邪歸正

gǎixié-guīzhèng

idiom HSK 7-9 #18,360

Meanings

1 to mend one's ways
2 to turn over a new leaf
3 to abandon evil and return to good

Characters

Examples

他在监狱里改邪归正了。

Tā zài jiānyù lǐ gǎixiéguīzhèng le.

He mended his ways in prison.

只要改邪归正，大家都会接受你。

Zhǐyào gǎixiéguīzhèng, dàjiā dōuhuì jiēshòu nǐ.

As long as you turn over a new leaf, everyone will accept you.

Tips

memory

改 (change) + 邪 (evil) + 归 (return to) + 正 (right) = change from evil, return to righteousness. A vivid image of switching from a crooked path back to the straight one.

Stroke Order

改 gǎi

邪 xié

归 guī

正 zhèng