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旧貌变新颜

舊貌變新顏
jiù mào biàn xīn yán
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 old appearance gives way to a new look
  2. 2 everything has taken on a fresh face
  3. 3 (lit.) the old visage has changed to a new countenance

Examples

改造后的老城区旧貌变新颜，吸引了不少游客。
Gǎizào hòu de lǎochéngqū jiùmàobiànxīnyán, xīyǐn le bùshǎo yóukè.
After renovation the old town has a brand-new look and draws plenty of tourists.
十年没回来，家乡旧貌变新颜，我几乎认不出了。
Shínián méi huílái, jiāxiāng jiùmàobiànxīnyán, wǒ jīhū rèn bù chū le.
After ten years away, my hometown is utterly transformed — I barely recognize it.

Tips

history
From Mao Zedong's (毛泽东) 1959 poem 《七律·到韶山》 (Seven-Character Regulated Verse: Arriving at Shaoshan). The couplet is 『喜看稻菽千重浪，遍地英雄下夕烟。为有牺牲多壮志，敢教日月换新天』— though the exact phrase 『旧貌变新颜』 comes from his 《七律·送瘟神》二首 (Farewell to the Plague God): 『春风杨柳万千条，六亿神州尽舜尧……天连五岭银锄落，地动三河铁臂摇……借问瘟君欲何往，纸船明烛照天烧』with the companion line 『千村薜荔人遗矢，万户萧疏鬼唱歌……红雨随心翻作浪，青山着意化为桥』. The phrase has since become standard for celebrating transformation.
usage
Common in news and propaganda describing urban renewal, poverty alleviation, or any dramatic makeover — positive and slightly formal. 颜 here means 'face / appearance,' not color.

Stroke Order

旧 jiù
貌 mào
变 biàn
新 xīn
颜 yán