反面教材 (fǎn miàn jiāo) — negative example; cautionary tale

Definition

Examples

• 这个案件成了法律课的反面教材。
  Zhè ge àn jiàn chéng le fǎ lǜ kè de fǎn miàn jiāo.
  This case became a negative example for the law class.
• 他的失败经历是一个反面教材，提醒我们不要犯同样的错误。
  Tā de shī bài jīng lì shì yí gè fǎn miàn jiāo, tí xǐng wǒ men bú yào fàn tóng yàng de cuò wù.
  His failure experience is a cautionary tale, reminding us not to make the same mistakes.
• 公司把那个项目当作反面教材，用来教育新员工。
  Gōng sī bǎ nà ge xiàng mù dàng zuò fǎn miàn jiāo, yòng lái jiào yù xīn yuán gōng.
  The company treats that project as a negative example to educate new employees.