Definition
引以为戒 is a four-character set phrase (成语) meaning 'to take something as a warning' or 'to learn a lesson from a past mistake.' It's used when you want to say that someone should use a negative experience or example to guide future behavior and avoid repeating the same error. The phrase is formal and often appears in written Chinese, such as in news reports, speeches, or official documents. You can use it in the pattern '以…为戒' or as a standalone clause.
f.e.
to take as a warningto learn a lesson from a past mistake
Examples
- 引以为戒，。Wǒmen yīnggāi cóng zhè cì shībài zhōng yǐn yǐ wéi, bìmiǎn zài fàn tóngyàng de cuòwù.We should learn a lesson from this failure and avoid making the same mistake again.
- 引以为戒，。Zhège ànlì zhídé dàjiā yǐn yǐ wéi, búyào tāntú xiǎo lì.This case is worth taking as a warning — don't be greedy for small gains.
- ，引以为戒。Tā yīn wéiguī bèi chǔfá, qítā rén yīng yǐn yǐ wéi.He was punished for violating the rules; others should take warning from it.
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