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HSK 3 Chinese reading practice

亡羊补牢

wáng yáng bǔ láo

Mend the Pen After Losing a Sheep

A farmer learns that fixing a problem late is still better than never fixing it.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 3
READ3 min
HANZI120
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文化
CULTURE

It is not too late to repair the pen

亡羊补牢 is recorded in Strategies of the Warring States. The idiom is still used to say that correcting a mistake after a loss can prevent an even greater loss.

Key vocabulary10 words from this story
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阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01狼从哪里进了羊圈？
02第一次丢羊以后，那个人做了什么？
03第二次丢羊以后，他怎么做？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 亡羊补牢

What does 亡羊补牢 mean in English?

亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) literally means “mend the sheepfold after losing a sheep.” It describes correcting a problem after a loss so that further damage can be prevented.

When is 亡羊补牢 used?

Use 亡羊补牢 when it is still worthwhile to fix a mistake, even though something has already gone wrong. For example: After one account was hacked, the company strengthened every password—亡羊补牢, but not too late.

What is the pinyin for 亡羊补牢?

The pinyin pronunciation for 亡羊补牢 is “wáng yáng bǔ láo.”