不可收拾

bùkě-shōushí

idiom #13,450

Meanings

局面已经到了不可收拾的地步。

Júmiàn yǐjīng dào le bùkěshōushí de dìbù.

The situation has reached an unmanageable point.

如果不赶紧处理，后果将不可收拾。

Rúguǒ bù gǎnjǐn chǔlǐ, hòuguǒ jiāng bùkěshōushí.

If we don't deal with it quickly, the consequences will be beyond repair.

memory

不可 (cannot) + 收拾 (tidy up/clean up) — the mess is so bad you can't even begin to clean it up.

grammar

Often preceded by 一发 (yīfā) to form 一发不可收拾 — once it starts, it becomes unstoppable/uncontrollable.

不 bù

可 kě

收 shōu

拾 shí