A burnt child dreads the fire.

A person who has been hurt by something may become especially cautious when they encounter it again. The fear comes from experience rather than from an imagined threat.

The proverb can also suggest that a single painful lesson has a lasting effect. That caution may help someone avoid another injury, even if their response seems excessive to others.

Use this proverb to explain why someone hesitates to repeat an action after it went badly before. It can express sympathy for their caution or point out how strongly a past setback shapes their choice.