有则改之，无则加勉 / 有則改之，無則加勉

yǒu​zé​gǎi​zhī​wú​zé​jiā​miǎn

correct mistakes and maintain records

If you have committed any mistakes, correct them; if you have not, continue to be on your guard and keep up your good work.

有 (literal) → 有 · yǒu · there is 则 (literal) → 则/則 · zé · then 改 (literal) → 改 · gǎi · to correct 之 (literal) → 之 · zhī · it ， (non_chinese) 无 (literal) → 无/無 · wú · to not have 则 (literal) → 则/則 · zé · then 加 (literal) → 加 · jiā · to increase 勉 (literal) → 勉 · miǎn · to strive

Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

created sense May 20, 2026, 07:58 PM