卷土重来 juǎn tǔ chóng lái
to make a comeback; to return after a defeat
Literally: roll dust again come
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Origin
From Du Mu's Tang poem on Xiang Yu: had he crossed the river and rallied the youth of Jiangdong, he might have 'rolled up the dust and come again'.
How to use it
Predicate; neutral, sometimes threatening. Often 明年卷土重来.
Example sentences
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- 这次比赛输了没关系,我们明年卷土重来。Zhè cì bǐsài shū le méi guānxi, wǒmen míngnián juǎn tǔ chóng lái.Losing this time doesn't matter; we'll be back next year.this time match lose (particle) no matter, we next-year roll dust again come
- 那个品牌消失了几年,最近又卷土重来了。Nàge pǐnpái xiāoshī le jǐ nián, zuìjìn yòu juǎn tǔ chóng lái le.That brand vanished for a few years and has recently made a comeback.that brand disappear (particle) several year, recently again roll dust again come (particle)
More chengyu about success & failure
- 一举两得yī jǔ liǎng déto kill two birds with one stone
- 名副其实míng fù qí shíto live up to one's name; worthy of the title
- 功亏一篑gōng kuī yī kuìto fail for want of a final effort; to fall at the last hurdle
- 东山再起dōng shān zài qǐto stage a comeback; to return to power or success after a setback
- 一败涂地yī bài tú dìto suffer a crushing defeat; to be utterly routed
- 得不偿失dé bù cháng shīthe loss outweighs the gain; not worth it
- 一鸣惊人yī míng jīng rénto amaze the world with a single feat; an overnight sensation after long obscurity
- 前功尽弃qián gōng jìn qìall previous efforts wasted; to lose everything gained