亡羊补牢

wáng yáng bǔ láo

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

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Definitions

1. lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost (idiom)
2. fig. to act belatedly
3. better late than never
4. to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 为时已晚 wéi shí yǐ wǎn 为时已晚 wéi shí yǐ wǎn already too late 亡羊补牢表示尚未太晚，为时已晚表示已经太迟: already too late

Related words

1 item

• 未雨绸缪 wèi yǔ chóu móu 未雨绸缪 wèi yǔ chóu móu lit. before it rains, bind around with silk (idiom, from Book of Songs 詩經|诗经); fig. to plan ahead 亡羊补牢强调事后补救，未雨绸缪强调事前预防: lit. before it rains, bind around with silk (idiom, from Book of Songs 詩經|诗经); fig. to plan ahead

Synonyms

1 item

• 为时不晚 wéi shí bù wǎn 为时不晚 wéi shí bù wǎn it is not too late (idiom) 都表示来得及，但亡羊补牢含“事后补救”的意象: it is not too late (idiom)

Usage notes

Common mistakes

常被误认为与“及时”相关，实际强调“弥补过失、为时未晚”。

Formality

多用于书面语或正式劝诫场合，日常口语较少使用。

Example Sentences

2 shown

虽然你已经犯了错，但 亡羊补牢 ，为时未晚。

Although you've made a mistake, it's not too late to mend.

亡羊补牢 。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 414466)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 亡羊补牢

• 牢 牢 láo: firm
• 羊 羊 yáng: sheep; goat
• 补 补 bǔ: to repair
• 亡 亡 wáng: to die