有則改之,無則加勉 yǒu zé gǎi zhī , wú zé jiā miǎn

DEFINITIONS

  1. correct any mistakes you made, but maintain your good record if you did not make them (idiom)

CHARACTERS

有 yǒu have, own, possess; exist
則 zé rule, law, regulation; grades
改 gǎi change, alter; improve, remodel
之 zhī marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
無 wú negative, no, not; lack, have no
則 zé rule, law, regulation; grades
加 jiā add to, increase, augment
勉 miǎn endeavor, make effort; urge