痛改前非 tòng gǎi qián fēi

truly repent and change past bad ways

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 41239th word

Definitions

  1. 1. completely correcting one's former misdeeds (idiom); to repent past mistakes and turn over a new leaf
  2. 2. a reformed character

Characters

Character Meaning
痛 tòng HSK 5
pain; ache; sorrow
改 gǎi HSK 4
to change; to alter; to correct
前 qián HSK 1
front; before; forward
非 fēi HSK 2
not; to not be; non-