前车之覆，后车之鉴 qián chē zhī fù ， hòu chē zhī jiàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. the cart in front overturns, a warning to the following cart (idiom); fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor
  2. learn from past mistake
  3. once bitten twice shy

CHARACTERS

前 qián
HSK 1
in front, forward; preceding
车 chē
HSK 1
cart, vehicle; carry in cart
之 zhī
HSK 4
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
覆 fù
HSK 6
cover; tip over; return; reply
后 hòu
HSK 1
queen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after
车 chē
HSK 1
cart, vehicle; carry in cart
之 zhī
HSK 4
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
鉴 jiàn
HSK 6
mirror, looking glass; reflect