惩前毖后 Learn from past mistakes and be cautious in the future
Explanation
惩前毖后是一个成语，意思是警戒以前所犯的错误，吸取教训，使以后谨慎些，不致再犯。它强调了从过去的错误中学习的重要性，并告诫人们要引以为戒，避免重蹈覆辙。
"Cheng Qian Bi Hou" is an idiom which means to punish past mistakes and be cautious for the future. It highlights the importance of learning from past mistakes and warns against repeating them.
Origin Story
西周时期，年幼的成王在周公旦的辅佐下执政。周武王的弟弟管叔和蔡叔等心怀不满，他们散布谣言，说周公居心叵测，意图篡位。成王听信了他们的谗言，对周公产生了怀疑。周公为了避免内乱，主动选择远离朝堂，隐居东都洛邑。然而，管叔和蔡叔乘机发动叛乱，意图推翻成王，夺取政权。成王这才意识到自己犯了错误，悔恨不已，立即向周公求援。周公率兵平叛，成功平息了叛乱。此后，成王痛定思痛，深刻反省，并吸取教训，在周公的辅佐下，励精图治，使西周国力日益强盛。这次事件成为西周历史上的一个重要教训，成王也因此明白了"惩前毖后"的道理，即要对过去的错误进行深刻的反省和警示，并以此为教训，避免将来犯同样的错误。
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the young King Cheng ruled under the guidance of the Duke of Zhou. King Wu’s brothers, Guan Shu and Cai Shu, harbored resentment and spread rumors that the Duke of Zhou was plotting a coup. King Cheng believed their slander and grew suspicious of the Duke. To avoid civil war, the Duke of Zhou willingly chose to leave the court and reside in Luoyi. However, Guan Shu and Cai Shu seized the opportunity and launched a rebellion to overthrow King Cheng. King Cheng then realized his mistake and deeply regretted it, immediately seeking the Duke of Zhou’s assistance. The Duke of Zhou led his troops to suppress the rebellion, successfully quelling the unrest. Afterwards, King Cheng reflected on his actions and learned his lesson, and with the Duke of Zhou’s guidance, he diligently governed, strengthening the kingdom of Western Zhou. This event served as a crucial lesson in the history of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and King Cheng understood the meaning of "Cheng Qian Bi Hou"—to learn from past mistakes and avoid repeating them.
Usage
惩前毖后常用于总结经验教训，避免重蹈覆辙。
Cheng Qian Bi Hou is often used to summarize experiences and lessons learned to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Examples
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这次失败,我们必须惩前毖后,避免重蹈覆辙。
zheyici shibai,womenbixu chengqianbihou,bimian chongdaofuche.
We must learn from this failure and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
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吸取教训,惩前毖后,才能更好地前进。
xiqu jiaoxun,chengqianbihou,caineng genghaode qianjin
Only by learning from the past and being cautious in the future can we make better progress。