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东山再起 (dōng shān zài qǐ) — to stage a comeback, to return to a previous position of success or power after a setback

Definition

A chengyu meaning to recover and regain former power after a fall — used for people, companies, or political figures returning after defeat or bankruptcy.

idiom
to stage a comeback, to return to a previous position of success or power after a setback

Examples

  • ，东山再起。
    Tā suī rán shī bài le, dàn xiāng xìn zǒng yǒu yì tiān huì dōng shān zài qǐ.
    Although he failed, he believes that one day he will stage a comeback.
  • 东山再起，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī pò chǎn hòu jìng rán dōng shān zài qǐ, ràng suǒ yǒu rén gǎn dào jīng yà.
    This company actually staged a comeback after bankruptcy, surprising everyone.
  • ，东山再起。
    Zhè wèi lǎo jiàng zài cì chū zhēng, zhǔn bèi dōng shān zài qǐ.
    This veteran general is going to war again, ready to stage a comeback.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

东山Eastern Hill
东dōngeast山shānmountain
偏正Modifier + head
再起rise again
再zàiagain起qǐrise
偏正Modifier + head

东山 'Eastern Hill' and 再起 'rise again' evoke a return to power after retirement.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 東; 东 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 東 originally drew a full bag tied at both ends. The simplified 东 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 东 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

山 shows three mountain peaks side by side.

Open 山 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

Open 再 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesSuccess & Failure

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