鑒往知來 jiàn wǎng zhī lái

DEFINITIONS

  1. to observe the past to foresee the future (idiom, taken loosely from Book of Songs); studying ancient wisdom gives insight into what is to come

CHARACTERS

鑒 jiàn mirror, looking glass; reflect
往 wǎng
HSK 2
go, depart; past, formerly
知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
來 lái come, coming; return, returning