Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
View all tools →
Blogs
过而能改
过而能改
过而能改
过而能改
过而能改
过而能改
过而能改
过而能改

过而能改 — “To admit and correct one's mistakes”

过而能改 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to admit and correct one's mistakes”. To be able to mend one's ways after making a mistake. Literally, “Err and able to amend”.

Frequency

过而能改 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 过guò
  • 而ér
  • 能néng
  • 改gǎi

过而能改 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
过
guò7pass, cross, or go over
而
ér6and, but, then
能
néng10can, be able to
改
gǎi7change or alter

Example Sentence with 过而能改

犯了错误并不可怕,可怕的是过而不能改。
It's not terrible to make a mistake; what's terrible is not being able to correct it.

Idioms Related to 过而能改

More idioms starting with 过

  • guò过wéi为yǐ已shèn甚To go too far
  • guò过le了zhè这gè个cūn村,,méi没zhè这ge个diàn店Seize this rare opportunity
  • guò过wǔ五guān关zhǎn斩liù六jiàng将overcome numerous formidable obstacles
  • guò过wǔ五guān关,,zhǎn斩liù六jiāng将overcome many challenges
  • guò过cóng从shèn甚mì密frequent close interactions
  • guò过guān关zhǎn斩jiàng将overcome all obstacles and defeat all opponents
  • guò过zé则wù勿dàn惮gǎi改Don't fear correcting your mistakes
  • guò过huà化cún存shén神profoundly influence and spiritually enlighten
  • guò过qù去wèi未lái来past and future
  • guò过tú屠dà大jué嚼console oneself with wishful thinking
  • guò过tú屠mén门ér而dà大jué嚼console oneself with imaginary satisfaction
  • guò过shì市zhāo招yáo摇swagger ostentatiously in public

Questions about 过而能改

What does 过而能改 mean?
过而能改 (guò ér néng gǎi) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to admit and correct one's mistakes”.
How do you pronounce 过而能改?
过而能改 is pronounced guò ér néng gǎi in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 过而能改 literally mean?
Literally, 过而能改 means “Err and able to amend”. It is used to mean “to admit and correct one's mistakes”.
What is the Chinese definition of 过而能改?
有了错误就能改正。
Copy the pinyin for 过而能改 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

© 2026 hanzi.now

Contact Us