Word

亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 亡羊补牢

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

better late than never; take corrective action after suffering a loss

虽然考试失败了，但现在开始努力学习，亡羊补牢，为时不晚。

suī rán kǎo shì shī bài le dàn xiàn zài kāi shǐ nǔ lì xué xí wáng yáng bǔ láo wéi shí bù wǎn

Although I failed the exam, if I start studying hard now, it's better late than never.

Word breakdown

亡 wáng — lose, perish (refers to the sheep being lost)

1 伤亡 shāng wáng — casualties HSK 6
- 伤 injured, wounded
- 亡 dead, deceased
Example

这次事故没有造成人员伤亡。

zhè cì shì gù méi yǒu zào chéng rén yuán shāng wáng

This accident caused no casualties.
2 死亡 sǐ wáng — to die HSK 6
- 死 die, death - the core concept of dying
- 亡 perish, deceased - reinforces and formalizes the meaning of death
Example

每年有很多人死亡于交通事故。

měi nián yǒu hěn duō rén sǐ wáng yú jiāo tōng shì gù

Many people die in traffic accidents every year.
3 灭亡 miè wáng — to perish, to be destroyed HSK 7
- 灭 to extinguish, to destroy
- 亡 to perish, to die out
Example

这个古老的文明最终灭亡了。

zhè ge gǔ lǎo de wén míng zuì zhōng miè wáng le

This ancient civilization eventually perished.
4 逃亡 táo wáng — to flee; to be on the run HSK 7
- 逃 to escape; to run away
- 亡 to be lost; to be gone (as a fugitive)
Example

罪犯逃亡了三年。

zuì fàn táo wáng le sān nián

The criminal was on the run for three years.

羊 yáng — sheep (the animal that was lost)

补 bǔ — repair, mend, fix

牢 láo — pen, enclosure (the sheep pen that needs fixing)

1 牢固 láo gù — firm, solid, secure HSK 7
- 牢 firm, secure, durable
- 固 solid, stable, fixed
Example

这座桥的基础很牢固。

zhè zuò qiáo de jī chǔ hěn láo gù

The foundation of this bridge is very solid.
2 牢牢 láo láo — firmly HSK 7
- 牢 firm, secure (base meaning)
- 牢 reduplication for emphasis and adverbial formation
Example

她牢牢地抓住绳子。

tā láo láo de zhuā zhù shéng zi

She held the rope firmly.
3 牢记 láo jì — to keep firmly in mind HSK 7
- 牢 firmly, securely
- 记 remember, keep in memory
Example

我们要牢记历史教训。

wǒ men yào láo jì lì shǐ jiào xun

We must keep historical lessons firmly in mind.
4 牢骚 láo sāo — complaint, grumble HSK 7
- 牢 suggests being stuck or confined in dissatisfaction
- 骚 suggests disturbance or agitation from dissatisfaction
Example

别发牢骚了，我们一起解决问题。

bié fā láo sāo le wǒ men yì qǐ jiě jué wèn tí

Stop complaining, let's solve the problem together.

Structure & writing

1 亡 wáng — to flee; to run away

亡 is a component in 8 characters

HSK 1

忙 máng busy, occupied (opposite of '闲')

HSK 2

忘 wàng to forget, fail to remember, omit 望 wàng to look, to look into the distance

HSK 6

盲 máng blind; unable to see

HSK 7

妄 wàng absurd, irrational, wild 氓 máng see "流氓": ① vagrant; rogue or hooligan; ② indecent behavior such as harassing women 芒 máng a perennial herb (Miscanthus sinensis) growing in hills and fields, with linear leaves, brownish-yellow panicles in autumn, and hairy fruits 茫 máng vast and boundless, indistinct

亡 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 羊 yáng — sheep or goat (mammal with horns, including domestic breeds like sheep and goats, and wild species like gazelles and antelopes; wool, hide, bone, and horn used as industrial materials; meat and milk edible)

羊 is a component in 20 characters

HSK 1

样 yàng shape; appearance; state of affairs

HSK 2

着 zhuó to wear (clothing)

HSK 3