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知错能改

zhī cuò néng gǎidictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to recognize one's mistakes and be able to reform oneself (idiom)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-21da955dded9b5e3. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

知錯能改 知错能改 [zhi1 cuo4 neng2 gai3] /to recognize one's mistakes and be able to reform oneself (idiom)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 知錯能改

  • 知
    zhī

    to know / to be aware

  • 错
    cuò

    mistake / wrong / bad / interlocking / complex / to grind / to polish / to alternate / to stagger / to miss / to let slip / to evade / to inlay with gold or silver

    Cuò

    surname Cuo

  • 能
    néng

    can / to be able to / might possibly / ability / (physics) energy

    Néng

    surname Neng

  • 改
    gǎi

    to change / to alter / to transform / to correct

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.