可资借鉴

You will usually see this at the end of a sentence. It acts like an adjective describing a noun. For example, you might say 'This case study 可资借鉴.' You can also use it to describe historical events or business strategies. It fits perfectly when you are analyzing a success or a failure. It sounds polished and intellectual. If you use this in a meeting, people will think you have a great vocabulary. It shows you are looking for practical value in external examples.

This is your go-to phrase for professional settings. Use it during a business presentation to highlight a competitor's success. Use it in academic writing when discussing previous research. It is also great for serious advice between friends. If your friend successfully negotiated a raise, their method is definitely 可资借鉴. It works well in news reports and formal speeches too. Basically, use it whenever you want to sound analytical and wise. It turns a simple observation into a strategic insight.

Avoid using this for trivial, everyday choices. If your friend picks a tasty flavor of ice cream, don't say it is 可资借鉴. That sounds way too stiff and robotic. It is like using a scalpel to cut a piece of toast. Also, don't use it if you are being sarcastic or mean. It is a constructive, positive phrase. Using it for something silly might make you sound like you are trying too hard. Keep it for things that actually involve a process or a strategy.

In Chinese culture, history is often called a 'mirror' (鉴). There is a famous saying: 'Using copper as a mirror lets you tidy your clothes; using history as a mirror lets you know the rise and fall of empires.' This phrase carries that weight. It suggests that a wise person doesn't need to make every mistake themselves. They look at the 'mirrors' provided by others. It reflects the Confucian value of constant self-improvement through observation and study. It is about being humble enough to learn from the world around you.

You might hear people say 值得借鉴, which means 'worth using as a reference.' It is slightly more common in spoken Chinese. Another variation is 可供参考, which is a bit softer and means 'available for reference.' However, 可资借鉴 sounds the most formal and authoritative. If you want to emphasize that something is a negative example, you might use 前车之鉴. That refers to the tracks of the cart in front of you that flipped over. It is a warning to not repeat the same mistake.