Definition
新官上任三把火 is a common Chinese saying that compares a newly appointed official to someone who lights three fires — meaning they initiate a burst of changes and reforms at the beginning of their tenure. It's equivalent to the English proverb 'a new broom sweeps clean.' The 'three fires' symbolize decisive actions, and the expression is often used as a comment on a leader's early show of energy.
idiom
a new broom sweeps cleana new official makes swift changes when first taking office
Examples
- 新官上任三把火，。Tā shì ge xīn guān shàng rèn sān bǎ huǒ，yí shàngrèn jiù gǎi le guīdìng.He's a new broom that sweeps clean — as soon as he took office, he changed the rules.
- 新官上任三把火，。Dàjiā dōu shuō xīn guān shàng rèn sān bǎ huǒ, guǒrán zhège xīn jīnglǐ kāishǐ biàn le hěnduō.Everyone says a new broom sweeps clean, and sure enough this new manager has started making lots of changes.
- 新官上任三把火，。Suīrán xīn guān shàng rèn sān bǎ huǒ, dàn yě yào kàn shíjì qíngkuàng.Although a new official tends to start with vigorous reforms, you also have to consider the actual situation.
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