# 拨乱反正

bō luàn fǎn zhèng

Restore order or correct a disordered situation

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Turn away disorder and return to what is right

**Traditional Chinese:** 撥亂反正

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe putting confused arrangements or mistaken practices right.

A substantial correction is implied, not merely a tiny tidy-up.

## The image & its use

A confused filing system can leave people unsure which version of a document is current. Restoring clear rules and consistent labels can make the whole process usable again. This expression describes a broader act of correcting disorder and returning to a sound arrangement. It often has a formal tone. The change should do more than move objects around: it should address the cause of the confusion. Explain the new standard so the restored order can be maintained by everyone involved.

## Examples

重新明确规则后，资料管理终于拨乱反正。

### Traditional Chinese

重新明確規則後，資料管理終於撥亂反正。

chóng xīn míng què guī zé hòu ， zī liào guǎn lǐ zhōng yú bō luàn fǎn zhèng 。

Clarifying the rules finally restored order to the document management.

这次整理旨在拨乱反正，让流程重新清楚起来。

### Traditional Chinese

這次整理旨在撥亂反正，讓流程重新清楚起來。

zhè cì zhěng lǐ zhǐ zài bō luàn fǎn zhèng ， ràng liú chéng chóng xīn qīng chǔ qǐ lái 。

The reorganization aims to restore a clear and orderly process.

老师帮助小组拨乱反正，纠正了混乱的记录方式。

### Traditional Chinese

老師幫助小組撥亂反正，糾正了混亂的記錄方式。

lǎo shī bāng zhù xiǎo zǔ bō luàn fǎn zhèng ， jiū zhèng le hùn luàn de jì lù fāng shì 。

The teacher helped the group correct its confused recordkeeping.

拨乱反正之后，还需要持续检查执行情况。

### Traditional Chinese

撥亂反正之後，還需要持續檢查執行情況。

bō luàn fǎn zhèng zhī hòu ， hái xū yào chí xù jiǎn chá zhí háng qíng kuàng 。

After restoring order, continued checks are needed to maintain it.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1193&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%92%A5%E4%BA%82%E5%8F%8D%E6%AD%A3)

## Keep exploring

- [不胫而走 bù jìng ér zǒu Spread rapidly without deliberate transport ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-jing-er-zou)

- [不可救药 bù kě jiù yào Seem beyond remedy or correction ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-ke-jiu-yao)

- [不翼而飞 bù yì ér fēi Disappear mysteriously or spread rapidly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-yi-er-fei)

- [沧海桑田 cāng hǎi sāng tián Enormous changes over a long period ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cang-hai-sang-tian)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 博古通今 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bo-gu-tong-jin) [Next idiom 伯仲之间 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bo-zhong-zhi-jian)