事不过三

事不過三

shìbùguòsān

idiom #34,896

Meanings

1 the same thing should not be attempted more than three times
2 three strikes and you're out
3 don't repeat the same mistake again and again

Characters

Examples

我已经原谅你两次了，事不过三。

Wǒ yǐjīng yuánliàng nǐ liǎng cì le, shì bù guò sān.

I've already forgiven you twice — three strikes and you're out.

事不过三，这次再失败就放弃吧。

Shì bù guò sān, zhè cì zài shībài jiù fàngqì ba.

Three is the limit — if it fails this time too, just give up.

Tips

history

Recorded in 《西游记》 (Journey to the West), chapter 27: 常言道：‘事不过三’ — 'as the saying goes, a thing should not happen more than three times.' Used to set a final-warning tone before withdrawing patience.

usage

Often spoken as a half-warning — the speaker is signaling that they've reached the limit of their tolerance after two prior failures or offences.

Stroke Order

事 shì

不 bù

过 guò

三 sān