挽回

• Pinyin: wǎn huí
• Hanzi breakdown: 挽 = 扌(hand) + 免 (phonetic); 回 = pictograph of a returning spiral

Meaning

To retrieve; to salvage; to win back; to reverse a bad situation. Implies recovering something already lost or on the verge of being lost.

Commonly used for recovering reputation, relationships, losses, or missed opportunities. Always involves something that has been damaged or slipping away. The subject is usually a person or organisation actively trying to reverse the situation. Cannot be used for physical retrieval of objects.

Examples

1. 公司在声明中道歉，试图挽回因丑闻受损的公众形象。 The company issued an apology in an attempt to salvage its public image, which had been damaged by the scandal.
2. 他做了很多努力，但还是没能挽回这段感情。 He made a great deal of effort but still couldn't save the relationship.
3. 比赛最后十分钟，球队奋力反攻，成功挽回了比分。 In the last ten minutes of the match, the team mounted a fierce comeback and successfully clawed back the score.

Usage Guide

Context: business, relationships, sports

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这次的道歉能挽回客户的信任吗？(Will this apology be enough to win back the client's trust?)
• 损失已经造成，现在唯一能做的就是尽量挽回。(The losses have already occurred; the only thing we can do now is try to recover as much as possible.)

Don't Say

• 用挽回描述取回具体物品，如'去挽回那本书' — use 取回 or 找回 for physically retrieving objects; 挽回 is for abstract losses

Origin & History

Compound of 挽 (to pull back) and 回 (to return). Together: to pull something back to where it was — to reverse or recover.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal