开弓没有回头箭 in English kai1 gong1 mei2 you3 hui2 tou2 jian4 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) once you've shot the arrow, there's no getting it back (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically once you started sth, there's no turning back
  • to have to finish what one started
  • to be determined to reach one's goals in spite of setbacks

Simplified Characters

开 弓 没 有 回 头 箭

Traditional Characters

開 弓 沒 有 回 頭 箭

Pinyin

kai1 gong1 mei2 you3 hui2 tou2 jian4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

开kai1to open 弓gong1surname Gong 没mei2(negative prefix for verbs) 有you3to have 回hui2to circle 头tou2head 箭jian4arrow