Chinese Wisdom Stories · Volume 1 · Story guide
周处自新(Zhou Chu's Self-Renewal)
zhōu chǔ zì xīn
Zhou Chu is feared like a tiger and a dragon — the three “evils” of his town. When he returns from fighting them, he finds his neighbors celebrating what they think is his death.
Where this story comes from
《世说新语·自新》
Shishuo Xinyu, chapter “Zi Xin”
The story
周处力气大,性情凶猛,乡里人都怕他,把他和山里的老虎、水里的蛟龙并称三害。他听说以后,去打虎杀蛟,三天没有回来。乡里人以为他死了,一起庆祝。周处回来,看到的是乡亲们庆祝他死——他第一次知道自己给别人带来多大的恐惧。他没有把恨转向别人,而是去拜访名士,决定改过自新。
What the idiom means
周处自新(zhōu chǔ zì xīn)指改正错误、重新做人;强调人知道自己错了以后,可以用行动开始新的生活。
To correct one's mistakes and start afresh — it is possible to become a different person through action.
How to use it
过去的错误不能决定一个人的一辈子,周处自新的故事就是这样说的。
guò qù de cuò wù bù néng jué dìng yī gè rén de yī bèi zi , zhōu chǔ zì xīn de gù shì jiù shì zhè yàng shuō de 。
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Part of the Chinese Wisdom Stories series