后悔莫及

後悔莫及

hòuhuǐ-mòjí

idiom #30,916

Meanings

1 to regret when it is too late
2 beyond the point of regret
3 no use crying over spilled milk

Characters

to reach; in time

Examples

HSK 3

现在不努力，将来一定会后悔莫及。

Xiànzài bù nǔlì, jiānglái yīdìng huì hòuhuǐ-mòjí.

If you don't make an effort now, you'll certainly regret it when it's too late.

HSK 4

等到身体出了问题才想到锻炼，就后悔莫及了。

Děngdào shēntǐ chū le wèntí cái xiǎngdào duànliàn, jiù hòuhuǐ-mòjí le.

If you only think about exercising after your health breaks down, regret comes too late.

HSK 5

他没有珍惜机会，现在后悔莫及。

Tā méiyǒu zhēnxī jīhuì, xiànzài hòuhuǐ-mòjí.

He didn't cherish the opportunity, and now his regret comes too late.

Tips

history

From Fan Ye's Southern Song text 《后汉书·光武帝纪》: "反水不收，后悔不及" - spilled water can't be gathered up; regret comes too late. Emperor Guangwu used this as a warning. 后悔莫及 is the standardized later form.

usage

Typically used in warnings: "if you don't X now, you'll 后悔莫及." Rarely used for completed regrets - more often for consequences still looming. 莫 here is classical for 不能 (cannot).

Stroke Order

后 hòu

悔 huǐ

莫 mò

及 jí