前车之鉴

前车之鉴

Literally means:

warning taken from the overturned cart ahead

Actually means:

lesson drawn from others' mistakes

This is a shortened form of the Chinese idiom "a toppled carriage serves as a lesson for upcoming drivers".

The phrase, referring to a lesson drawn from the unlucky driver, figuratively means one should take warning from others' mistakes. It is often used to advise people not to repeat others' or their own mistakes.

前车之覆，后车之鉴（前面车子翻到了，可以作为后面车子行进时的教训）的缩略。

前车之鉴，前面翻车的教训。比喻把以前的失败作为鉴戒，从中吸取经验教训。多用于劝告人们防止重。