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前车之覆，后车之鉴
qiánchēzhīfù,hòuchēzhījiàn
Traditional: 前車之覆，後車之鑒
lit. the cart in front overturns, a warning to the following cart (idiom); fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor / learn from past mistake / once bitten twice shy
Character Breakdown
前
qián
in front, forward; former, preceding
HSK 1
车
chē
cart, vehicle; to move in a cart
HSK 1
之
zhī
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
HSK 4
覆
fù
to cover; to overturn; to repeat; to reply
HSK 6
后
hòu
after; behind, rear; descendants
HSK 1
车
chē
cart, vehicle; to move in a cart
HSK 1
之
zhī
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; to go to
HSK 4
鉴
jiàn
mirror, looking glass; to reflect
HSK 6
Additional Information
Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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