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改弦易轍

简改弦易辙 · 繁改弦易轍

Mandarin · pinyin gǎi xián yì zhé

change of string, move out of rut (idiom); dramatic change of direction
to dance to a different tune

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Characters in this entry

改: gǎi · change, alter; improve, remodel
弦: xián · string; hypotenuse, crescent
易: yì · change; easy
轍: Look up this written character
辙: zhé · wagon ruts, wheel tracks

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–2–4–2 · gai3 xian2 yi4 zhe2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

改弦易轍 · find source passages ↗ · 改弦易辙 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to reform or revamp (a system or policy)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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