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惩前毖后

懲前毖後
chéngqiánbìhòu
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones
  2. 2 to take past errors as warnings
  3. 3 to criticize past wrongs to prevent recurrence

Examples

我们总结教训，惩前毖后，避免再犯同样的错误。
Wǒmen zǒngjié jiàoxun, chéngqiánbìhòu, bìmiǎn zài fàn tóngyàng de cuòwù.
We sum up the lessons learned, treat past errors as warnings, and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
公司开会就事故展开了惩前毖后的讨论。
Gōngsī kāihuì jiù shìgù zhǎnkāi le chéngqiánbìhòu de tǎolùn.
The company held a meeting to analyze the accident in a 'learn-from-the-past' spirit.
对待错误要本着惩前毖后、治病救人的方针。
Duìdài cuòwù yào běnzhe chéngqiánbìhòu, zhìbìngjiùrén de fāngzhēn.
Mistakes should be handled with the principle of learning from the past and curing the patient to save the person.

Tips

history
From 《诗经·周颂·小毖》: 予其惩而毖后患 — I take warning from this and guard against future trouble. One of the oldest idioms in active use.
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Frequently paired with 治病救人 in formal/Party-style discourse about handling mistakes — strict review without destroying the person.

Stroke Order

惩 chéng
前 qián
毖 bì
后 hòu