📖 Meaning
Spilled water cannot be gathered back. It metaphorically means that once something is done, it cannot be undone or reversed. Used to describe an irreversible situation where regret is futile.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from the Book of Later Han (后汉书), in the Annals of Emperor Guangwu (光武帝纪上). During the late Xin dynasty, Liu Xiu (later Emperor Guangwu of Han) and his allies were planning an uprising against Wang Mang's rule. An adviser urged Liu Xiu to act decisively, warning that once the water is spilled it cannot be collected again, and that hesitation would lead to irreparable regret. The saying encouraged him to commit fully to the rebellion, as turning back would be impossible once the course was set.
💡 Example Usage
事已至此，反水不收，再后悔也无济于事了。
Things have come to this point — spilled water cannot be gathered back, and regret will do no good now.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 反水不收
- Pinyin: fǎn shuǐ bù shōu
- Literal Translation: spilled, water, not, collected
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4