翻然改图 — “To suddenly and completely change one's mind”

翻然改图 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to suddenly and completely change one's mind”. Plan, or course of action and adopt a new approach. Literally, “To suddenly turn over and change plan”.

Frequency

翻然改图 Pronunciation and Pinyin

翻然改图 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
翻	fān	18	turn over, double, cross
然	rán	12	thus, so, yes
改	gǎi	7	change or alter
图	tú	8	picture, map, plan, seek

Example Sentence with 翻然改图

小明在学期中发现自己的学习方法效率不高，决定翻然改图，尝试新的学习策略。

Xiao Ming realized his study method was inefficient mid-semester, so he decided to suddenly change his approach and try new learning strategies.

Origin and Story of 翻然改图

During the Three Kingdoms period, after Liu Bei, the ruler of Shu, passed away, his minister Yong Kai surrendered to the Kingdom of Wu. Wu appointed him as the Prefect of Yongchang, and he set off to take up his post.

However, Lü Kai, the defending general of Yongchang Prefecture, was loyal to Shu and refused to let Yong Kai enter the city.

Lü Kai specifically wrote a letter to Yong Kai, hoping he would quickly change his mind and adopt a new plan (翻然改图). He suggested that if Yong Kai reconsidered his actions, he could still achieve great things and attain high positions. This was Lü Kai's earnest wish for Yong Kai to abandon his current path and choose a different, more honorable one.