判若两人 (pàn ruò liǎng rén) — to be completely different from one's former self; to change so much that one seems like a different person

Definition

Idiom meaning someone or something has changed so drastically they look like a different person entirely. Emphasizes a stark before-vs-after contrast, usually positive or surprising.

idiom
to be completely different from one's former selfto change so much that one seems like a different person

Examples

  • ，判若两人。
    Jiè yān zhī hòu tā biàn de hěn yǒu jīng shén, jiǎn zhí pàn ruò liǎng rén.
    After quitting smoking, she became very energetic, practically a different person.
  • ，判若两人。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì tā kǎo le dì yī míng, hé shàng cì bù jí gé de shí hou pàn ruò liǎng rén.
    He got first place in this exam, a totally different person from when he failed last time.
  • 判若两人。
    Nǐ chuān shàng xī zhuāng de yàng zi hé píng shí yùn dòng zhuāng pàn ruò liǎng rén.
    The way you look in a suit is a world apart from your usual sportswear.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
半
半bàn判pàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

判 combines 刀, a knife, with 半, which provides the sound.

Open 判 →

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

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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