痛定思痛

tòngdìng-sītòng

idiom #61,998

Meanings

1 to reflect on the pain after it has subsided
2 to learn the lessons of a painful experience
3 sober reflection after hardship

Characters

to settle; to calm

to think; to reflect

Examples

HSK 4

失败以后，他痛定思痛，重新制定了计划。

Shībài yǐhòu, tā tòngdìng-sītòng, chóngxīn zhìdìng le jìhuà.

After the failure, he reflected hard on the lessons and redrew his plan.

HSK 7-9

我们要痛定思痛，吸取这次事故的教训。

Wǒmen yào tòngdìng-sītòng, xīqǔ zhècì shìgù de jiàoxùn.

We must soberly reflect on this accident and take its lessons to heart.

Tips

history

From Han Yu's (韩愈) Tang-dynasty letter 《与李翱书》: 如痛定之人，思当痛之时 - like one whose pain has eased looking back on when it hurt. Reflection only becomes useful once the heat of the moment has passed.

Stroke Order

痛 tòng

定 dìng

思 sī