死灰复燃 (sǐ huī fù rán) — (set phrase) resurgence of something that was thought to be extinguished; revival (usually of something negative)

Definition

Literally 'dead ashes reignite' — a chengyu for the resurgence of something bad (crime, corruption, old habits) thought to be extinguished.

idiom
(set phrase) resurgence of something that was thought to be extinguishedrevival (usually of something negative)

Examples

  • 死灰复燃，。
    Zuì jìn zhè zhǒng jiù xí sú yǒu sǐ huī fù rán de qū shì, yǐn qǐ le dà jiā de tǎo lùn.
    Recently this old custom has shown signs of resurgence, sparking widespread discussion.
  • ，死灰复燃。
    Zhèng fǔ cǎi qǔ xīn cuò shī, fáng zhǐ fǔ bài xiàn xiàng sǐ huī fù rán.
    The government has taken new measures to prevent corruption from making a comeback.
  • ，死灰复燃。
    Zhè zhǒng chuán rǎn bìng suī rán yǐ jīng kòng zhì zhù le, dàn réng yǒu sǐ huī fù rán de kě néng.
    Although this infectious disease has been contained, there is still a possibility of resurgence.

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
歹歹dǎi
Sound part声符shēngfú
尸
尸shī死sǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

Open 死 →

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

灰 shows 火 (fire) that can be touched by 又 (hand), meaning ash.

Open 灰 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù復fù
Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

Open 复 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
然
然rán燃rán
Same sound today

燃 adds 火 (fire) to 然 to write “burn”; 然 supplied the sound, and 火 was added to make the fire meaning clear.

Open 燃 →

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