# 东山再起

dōng shān zài qǐ

Make a comeback after a setback

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Rise again from East Mountain

**Traditional Chinese:** 東山再起

**Register:** Hopeful · general

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

## When to use it

Describe a return to influence or success.

There must be an earlier withdrawal or fall.

## Understanding the expression

The expression presents a return after a period away from the center of activity. Its modern force is the comeback: someone who lost position, failed, or withdrew gains a new chance and becomes active again. It appears in business, sport, careers, and public life. Starting a first venture is different because there is no earlier position to regain. The phrase usually carries hope, admiration, or determined ambition.

## Examples

他关掉旧店后，准备东山再起。

### Traditional Chinese

他關掉舊店後，準備東山再起。

tā guān diào jiù diàn hòu ， zhǔn bèi dōng shān zài qǐ 。

After closing his old shop, he is preparing a comeback.

伤愈后的选手期待东山再起。

### Traditional Chinese

傷愈後的選手期待東山再起。

shāng yù hòu de xuǎn shǒu qī dài dōng shān zài qǐ 。

The recovered athlete hopes to make a comeback.

她换了团队，终于东山再起。

### Traditional Chinese

她換了團隊，終於東山再起。

tā huàn le tuán duì ， zhōng yú dōng shān zài qǐ 。

With a new team, she finally made a comeback.

失败两次并不妨碍我们东山再起。

### Traditional Chinese

失敗兩次並不妨礙我們東山再起。

shī bài liǎng cì bìng bù fáng ài wǒ men dōng shān zài qǐ 。

Two failures do not prevent us from making a comeback.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%9D%B1%E5%B1%B1%E5%86%8D%E8%B5%B7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=52&webMd=1&la=0)

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