tung3 goi2 cin4 fei1痛改前非
Jyutpingtung3 goi2 cin4 fei1
Yaletung gói chìhn fēi
Definition
To repent thoroughly of one's errors and turn over a new leaf.
writtenemotiondaily actions
How it's used
This is a formal idiom often used in serious contexts like speeches, news reports, or when someone is making a solemn promise to change their behavior. It carries a heavy weight of sincerity and implies a complete transformation of character rather than just a minor adjustment. Because of this gravity, it sounds overly dramatic or stiff if used to describe trivial mistakes.
Examples
He decided to turn over a new leaf and stop gambling from now on.
Do you really want to repent and change your ways?
Related words
Common phrases
determined to turn over a new leaf
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say sorry or change a habit. It is reserved for significant life changes or serious moral corrections, so using it for small things like being late or forgetting an item will sound sarcastic or unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
