syun4 dou3 gong1 sam1 ，bou2 lau6 ci4船到江心，補漏遲船到江心，补漏迟
Jyutpingsyun4 dou3 gong1 sam1 ，bou2 lau6 ci4
Yalesyùnh dou gōng sām ，bóu lauh chìh
Definition
It's too late to plug the leak once ship is in the middle of the river. (idiom)
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
Learn more on the YumCha blog
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Dictionary data from CC-Canto and CC-CEDICT, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.