前车之覆，后车之鉴
qián​chē​zhī​fù​hòu​chē​zhī​jiàn

to learn from past mistakes

  1. 前车之覆 前車之覆 qián​chē​zhī​fù
    previous failure
    the overturning of the chariot in front; a lesson drawn from a previous error or failure
  2. ， hòu
    non-Chinese
  3. 后车之鉴 後車之鑒 hòu​chē​zhī​jiàn
    lesson from the past
    literally meaning a warning to the following cart; drawing a lesson from the failure of those who came before or learning from past mistakes to avoid repeating them