洗心革面

xǐxīn-gémiàn
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to repent sincerely and turn over a new leaf
  2. 2 to wash one's heart and remake one's face

Examples

HSK 6
Chūyù hòu tā juéxīn xǐxīn-gémiàn, chóngxīnzuòrén.
After leaving prison, he resolved to turn over a new leaf and start over.
HSK 7-9
Zhǐyào nǐ zhēnxīn xǐxīn-gémiàn, dàjiā huì jiēnà nǐ de.
As long as you truly repent and change, people will accept you.
HSK 7-9
Zhè jiā gōngsī chǒuwén zhīhòu, chéngnuò xǐxīn-gémiàn.
After the scandal, the company pledged to reform itself from top to bottom.

Tips

history
Fused from two 《周易》 passages: '圣人以此洗心' (系辞上 - 'the sage thereby cleanses his heart') and '君子豹变,小人革面' (革卦 - 'the gentleman transforms like a leopard; the lesser person remakes his face'). The 抱朴子 later combined them into the modern idiom.
usage
Strong, almost rehabilitative: used for genuine moral reform after wrongdoing, not mere change of habit. Common after serious offenses, prison, scandal, addiction. Often paired with 重新做人 (become a new person).

Stroke Order

xīn
miàn