# 另起炉灶

lìng qǐ lú zào

Start a separate undertaking afresh

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Set up another stove

**Traditional Chinese:** 另起爐灶

**Register:** Decisive · general

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

## When to use it

Describe beginning independently or replacing the old setup.

May imply separation, not simply continuing routine improvement.

## Understanding the expression

A new stove allows cooking to begin in a separate place instead of relying on the existing kitchen. The expression describes starting an independent enterprise or rebuilding an approach from the beginning. A person may leave a partnership, or a team may abandon an unsuitable framework. It carries more separation than a small revision. Starting anew can provide freedom but also requires resources, so the phrase does not guarantee that a fresh start will succeed.

## Examples

她离开原公司，另起炉灶。

### Traditional Chinese

她離開原公司，另起爐灶。

tā lí kāi yuán gōng sī ， lìng qǐ lú zào 。

She left the company to start independently.

旧平台不适用，我们只能另起炉灶。

### Traditional Chinese

舊平臺不適用，我們只能另起爐灶。

jiù píng tái bú shì yòng ， wǒ men zhǐ néng lìng qǐ lú zào 。

The old platform is unsuitable, so we must start afresh.

合伙人不同意，他决定另起炉灶。

### Traditional Chinese

合夥人不同意，他決定另起爐灶。

hé huǒ rén bù tóng yì ， tā jué dìng lìng qǐ lú zào 。

He decided to begin independently after the partner disagreed.

别急着另起炉灶，先评估修复成本。

### Traditional Chinese

別急著另起爐灶，先評估修復成本。

bié jí zhe lìng qǐ lú zào ， xiān píng gū xiū fù chéng běn 。

Assess repair costs before starting from scratch.

## 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=%E5%8F%A6%E8%B5%B7%E7%88%90%E7%81%B6)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=560&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [柳暗花明 liǔ àn huā míng Find a new hopeful opening after difficulty ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/liu-an-hua-ming)

- [落花流水 luò huā liú shuǐ Be utterly defeated ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/luo-hua-liu-shui)

- [洛阳纸贵 luò yáng zhǐ guì A written work becomes immensely popular ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/luo-yang-zhi-gui)

- [每下愈况 měi xià yù kuàng Become progressively worse ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mei-xia-yu-kuang)

## 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 淋漓尽致 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lin-li-jin-zhi) [Next idiom 另眼相看 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ling-yan-xiang-kan)