# 回心转意

huí xīn zhuǎn yì

Change one's mind or attitude

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Turn the heart and change the intention

**Traditional Chinese:** 回心轉意

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe a reconsidered decision or renewed willingness.

Changing one's mind should be voluntary, not demanded.

## The image & its use

Heart and intention move together in the expression, making the change more than a minor adjustment in wording. A person who had declined an invitation may become willing after learning more, or someone may revise an earlier plan. It often implies a prior stance that now shifts. The phrase can occur in personal relationships, but also in ordinary choices. Explain the reason for reconsideration while respecting the person's freedom to keep their original decision.

## Examples

听完介绍，她回心转意，报名参加了。

### Traditional Chinese

聽完介紹，她回心轉意，報名參加了。

tīng wán jiè shào ， tā huí xīn zhuǎn yì ， bào míng cān jiā le 。

After hearing the introduction, she reconsidered and signed up.

他回心转意，愿意试试新方法。

### Traditional Chinese

他回心轉意，願意試試新方法。

tā huí xīn zhuǎn yì ， yuàn yì shì shì xīn fāng fǎ 。

He changed his mind and was willing to try the new method.

新的资料让我们回心转意。

### Traditional Chinese

新的資料讓我們回心轉意。

xīn de zī liào ràng wǒ men huí xīn zhuǎn yì 。

New information led us to reconsider.

别人尚未回心转意，也应尊重其选择。

### Traditional Chinese

別人尚未回心轉意，也應尊重其選擇。

bié rén shàng wèi huí xīn zhuǎn yì ， yě yìng zūn zhòng qí xuǎn zé 。

Respect another person's choice even if they have not reconsidered.

## 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=1118&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%9B%9E%E5%BF%83%E8%BD%89%E6%84%8F)

## Keep exploring

- [浑浑噩噩 hún hún è è Live in a muddled, unreflective state ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/hun-hun-e-e)

- [岌岌可危 jí jí kě wēi Be on the verge of danger or collapse ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ji-ji-ke-wei)

- [继往开来 jì wǎng kāi lái Build on the past to shape the future ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ji-wang-kai-lai)

- [积重难返 jī zhòng nán fǎn Find entrenched problems difficult to reverse ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ji-zhong-nan-fan)

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