覆辙
How to Say
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How to Write
Meaning: Repeated mistake
How to Understand
覆辙
覆辙 means a repeated mistake or a failure that occurs again due to not learning from past errors. It emphasizes the importance of reflecting on past actions to avoid repeating them.
The character 覆 (fù) means 'to overturn' or 'to cover,' and 辙 (zhé) refers to 'wheel track.' Together, they literally mean 'overturned wheel track,' symbolizing a path that has already been taken and then mistakenly followed again.
覆辙 is often used in historical or reflective contexts, such as in discussions about leadership, governance, or personal development. It is related to expressions like 避免重蹈覆辙 (bìmiǎn chóng táo fùzhé), meaning 'to avoid repeating past mistakes.'
Example Sentences
他没有吸取前人的教训，最终重蹈覆辙。
He did not learn from the past, and eventually repeated the same mistake.
历史告诉我们，不吸取教训就会重蹈覆辙。
History tells us that failing to learn from the past leads to repeating it.