重蹈覆辙 in English chong2 dao3 fu4 zhe2 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to follow in the tracks of an overturned cart (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to follow a path that led to failure in the past
  • to repeat a disastrous mistake

Simplified Characters

重 蹈 覆 辙

Traditional Characters

重 蹈 覆 轍

Pinyin

chong2 dao3 fu4 zhe2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

重zhong4to repeat 蹈dao3to tread on 覆fu4variant of 復|复[fu4] 辙zhe2to remove