重蹈覆轍

1. • lit. to follow in the tracks of an overturned cart (idiom)
2. • fig. to follow a path that led to failure in the past
3. • to repeat a disastrous mistake

Character by character

• 重(chóng)repeat
• 蹈(dǎo)tread on
• 覆(fù)cover
• 轍(zhé)rut