木已成舟
mù yǐ chéng zhōu
the wood is already a boat: what is done cannot be undone; a fait accompli
Character by character
木mù
wood
wood
已yǐ
already
already
成chéng
become
become
舟zhōu
boat
boat
Example
合同已经签了，木已成舟，现在后悔也来不及了。
The contract is signed and that is that; it is too late for regrets now.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said, often with resignation, when a decision or event can no longer be changed: 既然木已成舟，就…; 木已成舟，只能…. The spoken equivalent is 生米煮成熟饭; 覆水难收 (lesson 7-25) is used above all of words spoken and relationships broken.
Learn this in Lesson 179 · HSK 7–9: 克隆猴与基因编辑 (Cloned monkeys and edited genes)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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