mong4 joeng4 bou2 lou4亡羊補牢亡羊补牢
Jyutpingmong4 joeng4 bou2 lou4
Yalemòhng yèuhng bóu lòuh
Definition
To mend the fold after the sheep are lost; it is never too late to take precautions and rectify past mistakes.
neutraldaily actionsother
How it's used
This idiom carries a pragmatic tone, emphasizing that while a mistake has already occurred, taking immediate action can still prevent further damage. It is frequently used in professional or academic settings when someone realizes a process is flawed and needs a quick fix. Unlike some idioms that sound overly formal, this one is quite common in everyday advice.
Examples
Although we lost the match, it is not too late to learn from it; just practice harder next time.
ji1依gaa1家mong4亡joeng4羊bou2補lou4牢zung6仲lai4嚟dak1得cit3切，nei5你faai3快di1啲heoi3去goi2改faan1返fan2份bou3報gou3告laa1啦。
It is still not too late to fix things, hurry up and correct the report.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple apology, but it is actually a call to action. It focuses on the remedial step rather than the regret itself, so it is best used when suggesting a solution to a problem.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
