<p>There are some phrases of close meanings:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>化干戈为玉帛   turn hostility into peace;</p></li>
<li><p>转危为安 / 化险为夷       turn danger into safety;</p></li>
<li><p>化压力为动力   turn the pressure of life into power;</p></li>
<li><p>转悲为喜 turn sorrow into joy;</p></li>
<li><p>化悲痛为力量   turn sadness into power;</p></li>
<li><p>变废为宝    turn rubbish into useful things;</p></li>
<li><p>化失败为教训  turn failure into lessons</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-15T01:43:25.957Z
Nice list. I just want to add 化腐朽为神奇, similar to 变废为宝.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-14T18:34:52.473Z
2013-10-14T18:34:52.473Z
shuangwhywhy
<p>Is there a Chinese saying roughly equivalent in meaning to "turning lemons into lemonade"?</p>

<p>From Wikipedia,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" is a proverbial phrase
  used to encourage optimism and a can-do attitude in the face of
  adversity or misfortune. "Lemons" in this expression is used in the
  informal sense of the word, to indicate an unfortunate or inadequate
  situation, a meaning which probably stems from the sour and acidic
  taste of unsweetened lemon. "Lemonade" on the other hand, is a
  sweetened form of this same acerbic fruit, and so in the context of
  this expression, conveys the potential for pleasure and opportunity in
  seemingly bad situations.</p>
</blockquote>

<idioms>
Something like "turning lemons into lemonade"
# Something like "turning lemons into lemonade"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-14)

Is there a Chinese saying roughly equivalent in meaning to "turning lemons into lemonade"?

From Wikipedia,

> "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" is a proverbial phrase
> used to encourage optimism and a can-do attitude in the face of
> adversity or misfortune. "Lemons" in this expression is used in the
> informal sense of the word, to indicate an unfortunate or inadequate
> situation, a meaning which probably stems from the sour and acidic
> taste of unsweetened lemon. "Lemonade" on the other hand, is a
> sweetened form of this same acerbic fruit, and so in the context of
> this expression, conveys the potential for pleasure and opportunity in
> seemingly bad situations.

**Tags:** idioms


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-14. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

There are some phrases of close meanings:

* 化干戈为玉帛 turn hostility into peace;
* 转危为安 / 化险为夷 turn danger into safety;
* 化压力为动力 turn the pressure of life into power;
* 转悲为喜 turn sorrow into joy;
* 化悲痛为力量 turn sadness into power;
* 变废为宝 turn rubbish into useful things;
* 化失败为教训 turn failure into lessons

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Nice list. I just want to add 化腐朽为神奇, similar to 变废为宝.  

---

