📖 Meaning
To walk again the same rut where a cart previously overturned. It means failing to learn from past mistakes and repeating the same failed path. The idiom warns against stubbornly following a course of action that has already proven disastrous.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom traces back to the Song Dynasty history 'Song Shi' (宋史), in the biography of the calligrapher and painter Mi Fu (米芾). Mi Fu was known for his bold and unconventional writing style, deliberately avoiding imitation of his predecessors. The original text states that Mi Fu composed essays that were striking and daring, and that he 'did not follow the ruts of those before him' (不蹈袭前人轧辙). Over time, the phrase evolved into '蹈袭覆辙,' warning against repeating the same mistakes that led to past failures.
💡 Example Usage
前朝因横征暴敛而亡，若蹈袭覆辙，天下必乱。
The previous dynasty fell due to excessive taxation; if we repeat the same disastrous path, the realm will surely descend into chaos.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 蹈袭覆辙
- Pinyin: dǎo xí fù zhé
- Literal Translation: tread, follow, overturned, rut
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4