前轍を踏む ぜんてつをふむ Meanings Expression, Godan verb to repeat someone's mistake; to make the same mistake as one's predecessor (literally: to follow the ruts of a previous cart) See also: 轍を踏む (てつをふむ). Kanji 前 front. Read as ゼン. 轍 rut; wheel track. Read as テツ. 踏 step on. Read as ふむ. Word lists Idioms Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists