too late; not in time
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to be too late; to have no time (to do something)
literaryLiterary and formal register. Often appears in set phrases such as 后悔无计 (too late to regret). Used to indicate that the opportunity or time to act has passed.
Hòu后
huǐ悔
wú无
jí及
。
It is too late to regret.
Dài待
tā他
xǐng醒
wù悟
guò过
lái来
，
zǎo早
yǐ已
wú无
jí及
。
By the time he came to his senses, it was already too late.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Cǐ此
shí时
zài再
xíng行
guī规
quàn劝
，
yǐ已
rán然
wú无
jí及
。
To try to persuade him again at this point would be futile; the time has passed.