亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) — (idiom) to take remedial action after a loss; b…

Definition

Chengyu meaning 'mend the pen after the sheep are lost' — taking action to fix a problem only after suffering a loss. Often used positively to urge late but worthwhile correction.

idiom

to take remedial action after a lossbetter late than never

Examples

，亡羊补牢，。
Zhè cì kǎo shì méi kǎo hǎo, dàn wáng yáng bǔ láo, xià cì nǔ lì jiù hǎo le.
I didn't do well on this exam, but it's never too late to fix things — I'll work hard next time.
，亡羊补牢。
Gōng sī chū xiàn le yì xiē wèn tí, xiàn zài wáng yáng bǔ láo hái lái de jí.
The company has run into some problems, but it's still not too late to take corrective action.
，亡羊补牢，。
Bú yào huī xīn, wáng yáng bǔ láo, xiàn zài kāi shǐ gǎi biàn yě bù wǎn.
Don't lose heart — it's never too late to change, so start now.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The shape originally marked a knife's cutting edge with a line.

Open 亡 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 羊 comes from a drawing of a ram's head.

Open 羊 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

衤甫補

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衤Written in full as衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

甫

甫fǔ補bǔ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

宀牛牢