覆轍

简 覆辙 · 繁 覆轍
Mandarin · pinyin fù zhé

Meanings

  1. the tracks of a cart that overturned
  2. (fig.) a path that led to failure in the past
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Characters in this entry

覆
fù · cover; tip over; return; reply
轍
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辙
zhé · wagon ruts, wheel tracks
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–2 · fu4 zhe2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

noun

  1. (literally) track of an overturned cart
  2. (figurative) disastrous policy; previous failure

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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