Translation guide
The English idiom "turning over a new leaf" means making a fresh start or reforming one's behavior. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various set phrases, verbs, and idiomatic expressions that convey starting anew, changing one's attitude, or reforming oneself.
I'm turning over a new leaf.
A natural way to express a fresh start.
Expressing the idea of starting over with a clean slate, often after a period of difficulty or bad behavior.
A four-character compound meaning 'turning over a new leaf' or 'making a fresh start'. Often used when someone changes their environment or mindset.
I turned over a new leaf and started a new job.
Literally 'to restart' or 'to make a fresh start'. A straightforward way to say you are beginning again.
Means 'to start over from scratch'. Implies going back to the beginning and rebuilding.
Literally 'to renew one's feelings'. Used when you decide to change your attitude or approach.
Focusing on changing bad habits or improving oneself morally.
Means 'to reform oneself' or 'to repent and change one's ways'. Often used for moral or behavioral change.
He turned over a new leaf and started working seriously.
Literally 'to wash one's feet'. An idiom meaning to quit a bad habit or shady business and lead a clean life.
Emphasizing the beginning of a new phase, such as after a move, job change, or relationship change.
Means 'to take a new step forward'. A positive expression for starting something new.
After the divorce, she turned over a new leaf and took a new step forward.
Literally 'to redo one's life'. A strong expression for starting over completely.
心機一転 emphasizes a change in mindset or environment, while 再出発 simply means restarting. Use 心機一転 when you want to highlight a psychological shift.
I turned over a new leaf and moved from the city to the countryside.
I failed, but there's still a chance to start over.
Do not translate 'turning over a new leaf' literally as 新しい葉をめくる. This makes no sense in Japanese. Use the idiomatic expressions provided.
After the scandal, the politician promised to turn over a new leaf.
She turned over a new leaf and started exercising every day.
He overcame his past failures and made a fresh start.
I failed, but I intend to start over from scratch.
With the new year, I turned over a new leaf.
He turned over a new leaf and quit gambling.
Literally 'to be reborn'. Used figuratively to mean a complete transformation of character.
After leaving prison, he turned over a new leaf and became serious, as if reborn.
He decided to turn over a new leaf by moving to the countryside and starting his life over.