xǐxīngémiàn: 洗心革面 - To Turn Over a New Leaf, To Thoroughly Reform Oneself

• Keywords: xǐxīngémiàn, xixingemian, 洗心革面, turn over a new leaf Chinese, reform oneself Chinese idiom, chengyu for change, profound transformation, Chinese idiom for redemption, wash heart change face, start anew.
• Summary: 洗心革面 (xǐ xīn gé miàn) is a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) that means to “turn over a new leaf” or “thoroughly reform oneself.” It describes a profound and sincere transformation, not just in behavior but in one's fundamental character and morality. Literally translating to “wash the heart and change the face,” this term is used to describe someone who has made a complete break from a negative past—such as a criminal who has reformed or a person who has overcome a destructive lifestyle—to become a genuinely better person.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xǐ xīn gé miàn
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom) / Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Chengyu)
• Concise Definition: To completely change one's ways and reform oneself from the inside out.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a person whose heart is stained and whose face is known for misdeeds. `洗心革面` is the process of scrubbing the heart clean of all bad intentions and changing the face to reflect a new, virtuous identity. It’s a complete overhaul of one's moral compass and public behavior, signifying a deep, sincere, and total transformation for the better.

• 洗 (xǐ): To wash or to cleanse. Think of washing away dirt or stains.
• 心 (xīn): The heart, mind, or core of a person. It represents one's innermost thoughts, intentions, and character.
• 革 (gé): To change, reform, or remove. This character is also used in `革命 (gémìng)` meaning “revolution.” It implies a radical change, not a minor adjustment.
• 面 (miàn): The face, surface, or appearance. This represents one's outward behavior and how they present themselves to the world.

These characters combine to create a vivid metaphor: to “wash the heart” is to purify one's inner self, and to “change the face” is to alter one's external actions. Together, they describe a complete, inside-and-out reformation.

`洗心革面` is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophical traditions, particularly Confucianism and Buddhism, which emphasize self-cultivation, moral rectification, and the potential for redemption. The idea that a person, no matter how flawed, can achieve a state of inner purity (`洗心`) through sincere effort is a cornerstone of these beliefs. To an English speaker, “to turn over a new leaf” is the closest equivalent. However, `洗心革面` carries a much greater weight. “Turning over a new leaf” can sometimes be used for relatively minor changes, like starting a new diet or quitting a small bad habit. In contrast, `洗心革面` is almost exclusively used for major, life-altering moral transformations. It implies a conscious and often difficult struggle to overcome a seriously flawed past (e.g., crime, addiction, corruption) and is seen as a highly virtuous and respectable act. It speaks to the cultural value placed on sincerity, repentance, and the profound journey of becoming a better person.

This idiom is formal and literary. You won't hear it used in casual, everyday slang, but it's common in more serious contexts.

• Formality: High. Used in written language, formal speeches, news reports, and serious discussions.
• Connotation: Strongly positive. It describes a commendable and admirable transformation.
• Common Contexts:
  • Legal/Social System: Describing a former criminal who has been rehabilitated and is now a contributing member of society.
  • Personal Pledges: A person might use it to declare their own sincere intention to change their ways, often after a major mistake.
  • Biographies and Stories: Used to describe a character's dramatic moral turnaround in a movie, book, or historical account.

• Example 1:
  • 出狱后，他决心洗心革面，重新做人。
  • Pinyin: Chūyù hòu, tā juéxīn xǐ xīn gé miàn, chóngxīn zuòrén.
  • English: After getting out of prison, he was determined to turn over a new leaf and start life anew.
  • Analysis: This is a classic context for the idiom, referring to the reformation of a former convict. `重新做人 (chóngxīn zuòrén)` often accompanies it to reinforce the idea of starting a new life.
• Example 2:
  • 经过这次失败，他终于醒悟，决定洗心革面，不再赌博。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò zhè cì shībài, tā zhōngyú xǐngwù, juédìng xǐ xīn gé miàn, bù zài dǔbó.
  • English: After this failure, he finally came to his senses and decided to thoroughly reform himself and stop gambling.
  • Analysis: This example shows the idiom used for overcoming a serious personal failing like a gambling addiction. The change is prompted by a significant negative event.
• Example 3:
  • 我们希望这家屡次违规的公司能够洗心革面，遵守法律。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xīwàng zhè jiā lǚcì wéiguī de gōngsī nénggòu xǐ xīn gé miàn, zūnshǒu fǎlǜ.
  • English: We hope this company, which has repeatedly broken the rules, can thoroughly reform its ways and abide by the law.
  • Analysis: The idiom can be applied metaphorically to an organization, like a company, that needs to change its corrupt or unethical practices.
• Example 4:
  • 只要你肯洗心革面，大家还是会给你一次机会的。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ kěn xǐ xīn gé miàn, dàjiā háishì huì gěi nǐ yī cì jīhuì de.
  • English: As long as you are willing to turn over a new leaf, everyone will still give you another chance.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `洗心革面` to set a condition for forgiveness and a second chance, highlighting the social importance of genuine reform.
• Example 5:
  • 在妻子的鼓励下，他终于洗心革面，戒掉了多年的酒瘾。
  • Pinyin: Zài qīzi de gǔlì xià, tā zhōngyú xǐ xīn gé miàn, jiè diàole duōnián de jiǔyǐn.
  • English: With his wife's encouragement, he finally reformed himself and quit his years-long addiction to alcohol.
  • Analysis: Shows that the motivation for such a profound change can often be external support from loved ones.
• Example 6:
  • 那个曾经让老师头痛的学生，现在已经洗心革面，成了一名优秀的医生。
  • Pinyin: Nàge céngjīng ràng lǎoshī tóutòng de xuéshēng, xiànzài yǐjīng xǐ xīn gé miàn, chéngle yī míng yōuxiù de yīshēng.
  • English: That student who used to be a headache for the teachers has now completely turned his life around and become an excellent doctor.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a long-term transformation, contrasting a problematic past with a successful and respectable present.
• Example 7:
  • 他在法官面前发誓，自己一定会洗心革面。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài fǎguān miànqián fāshì, zìjǐ yīdìng huì xǐ xīn gé miàn.
  • English: He swore before the judge that he would definitely mend his ways.
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used in a very formal setting as a solemn promise or pledge to reform.
• Example 8:
  • 一场大病让他看透了人生，从此洗心革面，乐于助人。
  • Pinyin: Yī chǎng dà bìng ràng tā kàntòule rénshēng, cóngcǐ xǐ xīn gé miàn, lèyúzhùrén.
  • English: A serious illness gave him a new perspective on life; from then on, he changed completely and enjoyed helping others.
  • Analysis: This example connects the transformation to a life-changing event that triggers a deep shift in values and character.
• Example 9:
  • 政府发起了一场反腐运动，要求所有官员洗心革面，廉洁奉公。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ fāqǐle yī chǎng fǎnfǔ yùndòng, yāoqiú suǒyǒu guānyuán xǐ xīn gé miàn, liánjié fènggōng.
  • English: The government launched an anti-corruption campaign, demanding that all officials thoroughly reform themselves and serve with integrity.
  • Analysis: Another example of the term being applied to a group, in this case, a call for systemic moral and ethical change.
• Example 10:
  • 读了这本书后，他仿佛洗心革面一般，对世界的看法完全变了。
  • Pinyin: Dúle zhè běn shū hòu, tā fǎngfú xǐ xīn gé miàn yībān, duì shìjiè de kànfǎ wánquán biàn le.
  • English: After reading this book, it was as if he had been completely transformed; his view of the world changed entirely.
  • Analysis: Here, the transformation is intellectual and philosophical rather than correcting a moral wrong. The phrase `仿佛…一般 (fǎngfú…yībān)` means “as if,” softening the idiom to describe a profound change in perspective.

• Don't use it for minor changes: This is the most common mistake. Using `洗心革面` to describe starting a new hobby or breaking a small habit is incorrect and sounds hyperbolic. It's reserved for major moral and lifestyle overhauls.
  • Incorrect: 我决定开始健身，我要洗心革面！(Wǒ juédìng kāishǐ jiànshēn, wǒ yào xǐ xīn gé miàn!) → “I decided to start working out, I'm going to turn over a new leaf!” (This is far too trivial for the idiom).
  • Correct: 我决心戒掉坏习惯。(Wǒ juéxīn jiè diào huài xíguàn.) → “I'm determined to quit my bad habits.”
• It implies a bad past: The idiom inherently suggests that the person's previous state was negative, immoral, or deeply flawed. You wouldn't use it for a good person who simply wants to become even better.
• Not the same as “changing one's mind”: `洗心革面` is about changing one's entire being and way of life. It is not about changing an opinion on a specific topic. For that, you would use a simpler phrase like `改变想法 (gǎibiàn xiǎngfǎ)`.

• 改过自新 (gǎi guò zì xīn): To correct one's errors and start anew. A very close synonym of `洗心革面`, often used interchangeably.
• 浪子回头 (làng zǐ huí tóu): Literally “the prodigal son returns.” Specifically refers to a dissolute or wayward person (traditionally a young man) who mends their ways. It has a more narrative, story-like feel.
• 脱胎换骨 (tuō tāi huàn gǔ): To be reborn; to shed one's mortal body and exchange one's bones. This is even more dramatic than `洗心革面`, suggesting a complete and fundamental rebirth, as if becoming a different species.
• 重新做人 (chóng xīn zuò rén): To be a new person; to start life anew. A more colloquial and direct way to express the idea of reformation, often used alongside `洗心革面`.
• 痛改前非 (tòng gǎi qián fēi): To bitterly regret and completely correct one's past wrongs. This term places a stronger emphasis on the feeling of remorse and pain associated with past mistakes.
• 金盆洗手 (jīn pén xǐ shǒu): To wash one's hands in a golden basin. A metaphor for a person (especially a gangster or someone in an illicit trade) retiring from their criminal life. It focuses on the act of stopping, rather than the internal transformation.
• Antonym: 死不悔改 (sǐ bù huǐ gǎi): Unrepentant even in the face of death; incorrigible. The direct opposite, describing someone who refuses to change their wicked ways.