脫胎換骨 tuō tāi huàn gǔ

to turn over a new leaf; fig. to change wholly

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to turn over a new leaf
  2. 2. fig. to change wholly
  3. 3. to create from other material (story, artwork etc)
  4. 4. to shed one's mortal body and exchange one's bones (idiom); born again Daoist

Characters

Character Meaning
脫 tuō
to take off; to shed; to get away from
胎 tāi HSK 6
tire; abbr. of 轮胎lún tāi; fetus
換 huàn
to change (clothes etc); to exchange; to switch
骨 gǔ HSK 5
bone