亡羊补牢
亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) literally means “fix pen after lost sheep” and expresses “never too late to fix”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wang yang bu lao, wang yang bu lao,亡羊补牢 meaning, 亡羊补牢 in english
Never too late to fix
Pronunciation: wáng yáng bǔ láo
Literal meaning: Fix pen after lost sheep
Origin & Usage
This practical wisdom originates from an ancient shepherd who, after losing (亡) sheep (羊), finally repaired (补) his pen (牢). The story, recorded in 'Guanzi', became a governance parable during the Warring States period. Officials used it to argue for preventive policies rather than reactive measures. The idiom gained additional significance during the Ming Dynasty when it was applied to national defense strategies. Modern usage spans from cybersecurity to relationship maintenance, emphasizing that while late corrections can't undo past losses, they can prevent future ones. It advocates for learning from mistakes and taking corrective action, however belated.
Examples
English: "After the security breach, the company finally upgraded their systems"
Chinese: 在安全漏洞事件后，公司终于升级了系统
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 亡羊补牢 mean in English?
亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) literally translates to “Fix pen after lost sheep” and is used to express “Never too late to fix”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 亡羊补牢 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving never too late to fix.
What is the pinyin for 亡羊补牢?
The pinyin pronunciation for 亡羊补牢 is “wáng yáng bǔ láo”.