Idiom: 東山再起 (Dōng shān zài qǐ)
Literal Meaning: Rise again from the East Mountain.
Explanation: means to make a comeback or recover from a setback.
Chinese Idiom Stories
The idiom “東山再起” (Dōngshān zàiqǐ) originates from the story of Xie An, a politician during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Xie An was a talented young man, but he disliked officialdom and chose to retire to Mount Dongshan.
Later, when the Eastern Jin Dynasty faced the threat of invasion by foreign tribes, the court was in desperate need of talented people. Xie An was unanimously recommended to come out of retirement, and out of a sense of duty, he finally agreed to the court’s request. After returning to official life, he relied on his wisdom and ability to assist the court, successfully repelled foreign enemies, and made great contributions to the stability of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Therefore, the idiom “東山再起” is used to describe a person who has regained power after losing it, or who has recovered from failure.
東山再起 這個成語，源自於東晉時期的政治家謝安。謝安年輕時才華出眾，但卻不喜歡官場生活，於是辭官隱居在東山。
後來，東晉王朝面臨外族入侵的危機，朝廷急需人才。眾人一致推薦謝安出山，謝安礙於情面，最終答應了朝廷的請求。他出山後，憑藉自己的才智和能力，輔佐朝廷，成功抵禦外敵，為東晉王朝的穩定做出了巨大的貢獻。
因此，「東山再起」這個成語就被用來比喻一個人失勢後重新得勢，或是在失敗後重新振作起來。
Idiom Example Sentences
- 他事業失敗後，經過幾年的努力，終於東山再起了。
- Tā shìyè shībài hòu, jīngguò jǐ nián de nǔlì, zhōngyú dōngshān zàiqǐ le.
- After his business failure, he worked hard for several years and finally made a comeback.
- 雖然公司面臨困境，但我們相信，只要大家齊心協力，一定能東山再起。
- Suīrán gōngsī miànlín kùnnan, dàn wǒmen xiāngxìn, zhǐyào dàjiā qíxīnqiélì, yīdìng néng dōngshān zàiqǐ.
- Although our company is facing difficulties, we believe that as long as we work together, we will definitely be able to make a comeback.
Practice Exercise
Write a sentence using “東山再起” to describe someone who recovers from a failure.
- Example: 經歷了金融危機後，他的公司奇蹟般地東山再起。
(Jīnglì le jīnróng wéijī hòu, tā de gōngsī qíjī bān de dōngshān zài qǐ.)
After the financial crisis, his company miraculously made a comeback.
Multiple Choice Questions
In which situation would you use “東山再起”?
A. Someone who retires peacefully.
B. A person who recovers from bankruptcy and rebuilds their business.
C. A student who gives up on a subject.
D. Someone who wins an award for the first time.
Correct answer: B
