sai2 sam1 gaak3 min6洗心革面
Jyutpingsai2 sam1 gaak3 min6
Yalesái sām gak minh
Definition
Lit. to wash one's heart and renew one's face (idiom); to repent sincerely and mend one's mistaken ways
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a formal and serious tone, often used in contexts involving rehabilitation, criminal reform, or major life changes. While it is a standard four-character idiom, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to describe someone who has genuinely abandoned their past misdeeds. It implies a deep, internal transformation rather than just a superficial change in behavior.
Examples
keoi5 waa6 jiu3 sai2 sam1 gaak3 min6 m4 zoi3 zou6 waai6 si6 laa3
佢話要洗心革面，唔再做壞事喇。
He said he wants to turn over a new leaf and stop doing bad things.
nei5 zan1 hai6 kyut3 ding6 sai2 sam1 gaak3 min6 cung4 san1 zou6 jan4 me1
你真係決定洗心革面重新做人咩？
Are you really determined to repent and start life anew?
Related words
Common phrases
kyut3 sam1 sai2 sam1 gaak3 min6
決心洗心革面
determined to turn over a new leaf
cit3 dai2 sai2 sam1 gaak3 min6
徹底洗心革面
thoroughly mend one's ways
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
