有则改之、无则加勉
yǒu
zé
gǎi
zhī
,
wú
zé
jiā
miǎn

Definitions

  1. 1. “correct mistakes if you make them; guard against making them if you have not”

Components

  • 有 yǒu – to have
  • 则 zé – (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but
  • 改 gǎi – to change
  • 之 zhī – (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])
  • 无 wú – not to have
  • 加 Jiā – PN:abbr. for Canada 加拿大[Jia1 na2 da4]
  • 勉 miǎn – to exhort