改弦易辙 — “To change one's approach, method, or direction”
改弦易辙 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to change one's approach, method, or direction”. To alter one's course of action or plan. Literally, “change strings and alter tracks”.
改弦易辙 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 改gǎi
- 弦xián
- 易yì
- 辙zhé
改弦易辙 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 改弦易辙
Origin and Story of 改弦易辙
During the Western Han Dynasty, the notoriously cruel official Zhang Tang, while serving as a censor, often implicated and executed many people in his cases, eventually being forced to commit suicide himself over a particular incident.
However, Zhang Tang's son, Zhang Anshi, was known for his integrity and prudence in applying the law. He earned the trust and respect of Emperors Wu, Zhao, and Xuan. The Song Dynasty scholar Wang Mao later commented that Zhang Anshi, by changing his approach 'as if changing strings on an instrument and altering the tracks of a cart,' saved his family from their previous misfortune.
Idioms Related to 改弦易辙
Synonyms of 改弦易辙
Antonyms of 改弦易辙
More idioms starting with 改
- gǎi改sú俗qiān迁fēng风change customs and habits
- gǎi改kǒu口tà沓shé舌go back on one's word
- gǎi改míng名huàn换xìng姓change one's name and identity
- gǎi改míng名yì易xìng姓change one's name and surname
- gǎi改tiān天huàn换dì地to transform completely
- gǎi改tóu头huàn换wěi尾make superficial changes
- gǎi改tóu头huàn换miàn面make superficial changes
- gǎi改xìng姓yì易dài代change ruling dynasty or system
- gǎi改xìng姓gēng更míng名change one's name to conceal identity
- gǎi改róng容yì易mào貌change one's appearance completely
- gǎi改róng容gèng更mào貌change one's appearance or demeanor
- gǎi改zhāng张yì易diào调change one's approach or policy
Questions about 改弦易辙
- What does 改弦易辙 mean?
- 改弦易辙 (gǎi xián yì zhé) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to change one's approach, method, or direction”.
- How do you pronounce 改弦易辙?
- 改弦易辙 is pronounced gǎi xián yì zhé in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 改弦易辙 literally mean?
- Literally, 改弦易辙 means “change strings and alter tracks”. It is used to mean “to change one's approach, method, or direction”.
- Where does 改弦易辙 come from?
- 改弦易辙 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 改弦易辙?
- 辙：车轮轧过的痕迹。琴换弦，车改道。比喻改变原来的方向、计划、办法等。