前事不忘

qiánshìbùwàng

idiom

Meanings

Qián shì bù wàng, hòu shì zhī shī.

The lessons of the past guide the future.

Qián shì bù wàng, wǒmen yào xīqǔ jiàoxùn.

Don't forget the past; we must learn from it.

usage

Usually appears as the first half of 前事不忘，后事之师 (past experience guides the future). The full form is common in formal speech and writing.

history

From 《战国策·赵策》: 前事之不忘，后事之师. Cited for centuries as a warning to leaders to study history.

前 qián

事 shì

不 bù

忘 wàng