将功补过 make amends for one's past mistakes
Explanation
用功劳来弥补以前的过失。
To use merits to compensate for past mistakes.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，边关告急，一位名叫李靖的将军临危受命，率兵前往抗敌。李靖深知敌军狡猾，便设下埋伏，最终大获全胜，歼敌无数，立下赫赫战功。然而，在这次战役中，李靖也犯了一个严重的错误，由于轻敌冒进，导致部分士兵阵亡。战后，皇上龙颜大怒，责备李靖的鲁莽。李靖意识到自己的错误，痛定思痛，上书朝廷，请求将自己的功劳用来弥补过失。皇上看到李靖的诚意，并考虑到他为国家做出的巨大贡献，最终赦免了他的罪过，并加官进爵。从此，“将功补过”的故事便流传开来，成为了后人警戒和学习的典范。
In the Tang Dynasty, when the border was in danger, a general named Li Jing was sent to battle. Li Jing, knowing the enemy's cunning, set an ambush and won a decisive victory. However, he also made a serious mistake: Due to arrogance and rash actions, some of his soldiers died. The emperor was furious. Li Jing admitted his mistake and asked the emperor to use his merits to atone for his errors. The emperor recognized Li Jing's remorse and forgave him. The story of Li Jing became an example of how merits can atone for past mistakes.
Usage
用于形容用功劳来弥补过错的行为。
Used to describe the act of using merit to compensate for mistakes.
Examples
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他虽然犯了错误，但后来立了大功，也算是将功补过了。
tā suīrán fàn le cuòwù, dàn hòulái lì le dà gōng, yě suàn shì jiāng gōng bǔ guò le.
Although he made mistakes, he later made great contributions, so it can be considered that he made amends for his past mistakes.
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他之前的错误行为，因为这次的贡献得到了弥补。
tā zhīqián de cuòwù xíngwéi, yīnwèi zhè cì de gòngxiàn dédào le míměi。
His previous misconduct was compensated for by his current contribution.