goi2 jin4 gang1 zoeng1改弦更張改弦更张

Jyutpinggoi2 jin4 gang1 zoeng1

Yalegói yìhn gāng jēung

Definition

To make a fresh start, start a total reform, or change policy.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a formal and literary tone, often used in professional or political contexts to describe a significant shift in strategy or policy. It originates from the metaphor of adjusting the tension of a stringed instrument to produce a different sound, implying a fundamental correction rather than a minor tweak. While it can be used in daily conversation to sound sophisticated or emphatic, it is rarely used for trivial personal changes.

Examples

gung1公si1司kyut3決ding6定goi2改jin4弦gang1更zoeng1張，goi2改gaak3革sing4成go3個gun2管lei5理zai3制dou6度。

The company decided to make a fresh start and reform the entire management system.

nei5你seng4成jat6日dou1都sat1失baai6敗，hai6係mai6咪jing1應goi1該haau2考leoi6慮goi2改jin4弦gang1更zoeng1張aa4呀？

You keep failing, shouldn't you consider a total change of direction?

Common phrases

cit3徹dai2底goi2改jin4弦gang1更zoeng1張

a thorough and complete reform

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this for minor adjustments like changing a habit or a daily routine. It is reserved for major, structural, or systemic overhauls.