木已成舟

mùyǐchéngzhōu

idiom #25,597

Meanings

1 what is done cannot be undone
2 the timber has already been made into a boat
3 it's a done deal

Characters

to become; to complete

Examples

合同已经签了，木已成舟，只能往前看。

Hétong yǐjīng qiān le, mùyǐchéngzhōu, zhǐ néng wǎng qián kàn.

The contract has been signed; what's done is done — we can only look forward.

木已成舟，后悔也没有用了。

Mùyǐchéngzhōu, hòuhuǐ yě méiyǒu yòng le.

It's done and cannot be undone; there's no use in regretting it now.

Tips

memory

Imagine a tree that has been cut down and carved into a boat — once the wood (木) has become (成) a boat (舟), you can't turn it back into a tree. The action is irreversible.

Stroke Order

木 mù

已 yǐ

成 chéng

舟 zhōu