reform one's ways; wash one's hands of; quit a profession
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesverb
to reform one's ways; to repent and turn over a new leaf (said of thieves, criminals, etc.)
Figurative expression originally referring to washing one's hands, now meaning a criminal decides to stop illegal activities and become law-abiding. Often used in the phrase 洗手不干.
Nà那
gè个
xiǎo小
tōu偷
zhōng终
yú于
xǐ洗
shǒu手
bù不
gàn干
，
chóng重
xīn新
zuò做
rén人
le了
。
That thief finally reformed and started his life anew.
Tā他
jué决
dìng定
jīn金
pén盆
xǐ洗
shǒu手
，
tuì退
chū出
jiāng江
hú湖
。
He decided to wash his hands of the business and retire from the underworld.
verb
to quit a profession; to wash one's hands of something; to stop doing a particular job (especially one considered unsavory)
Often used in the phrases 洗手不干 or 洗手改行. Implies permanently stopping a particular line of work, frequently because of moral concerns or simply having had enough.
Tā他
gàn干
le了
shí十
nián年
shā杀
shǒu手
，
rú如
jīn今
jué决
dìng定
xǐ洗
shǒu手
gǎi改
háng行
。
He worked as a hitman for ten years, but now has decided to quit and switch careers.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
míng名
shēng声
tài太
chà差
，
tā他
jué决
dìng定
xǐ洗
shǒu手
bù不
gàn干
。
This company has such a bad reputation that he decided to wash his hands of it.