tòng​dìng​sī​tòng

to learn from a painful lesson

Senses

痛定思痛 tòng​dìng​sī​tòng to learn from a painful lesson

(idiom) to ponder a past painful experience after the initial shock or pain has subsided, so as to draw lessons from it or avoid future mistakes

References

antonym 至死不悟/至死不悟 痛定思痛/痛定思痛