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

Definition

A 'negative example' used as a teaching tool — a case of failure or bad behavior that warns people what NOT to do.

noun
negative examplecautionary tale

Examples

  • 反面教材
    Zhè ge àn jiàn chéng le fǎ lǜ kè de fǎn miàn jiào cái.
    This case became a negative example for the law class.
  • 反面教材
    Tā de shī bài jīng lì shì yí gè fǎn miàn jiào cái, 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.
  • 反面教材
    Gōng sī bǎ nà ge xiàng mù dàng zuò fǎn miàn jiào cái, yòng lái jiào yù xīn yuán gōng.
    The company treats that project as a negative example to educate new employees.

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