往者不可及，來者猶可待

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Chinese

past actions; past events; the past
past actions; past events; the past; past times; former times
 
 cannot; should not; must not to reach; and future generations; the future; future events as if; still
to be about to happen; about to; on the point of
to be about to happen; about to; on the point of; going to; soon; at hand; around the corner
 
trad. (往者不可及，來者猶可待) 往者 不可 及 ， 來者 猶 可待
simp. (往者不可及，来者犹可待) 往者 不可 及 ， 来者 犹 可待

Etymology

From a phrase in the Analects, Book 18 (《論語·微子》) with slightly different wording:

楚狂接輿歌而過孔子曰：「鳳兮！鳳兮！何德之衰？往者不可諫，來者猶可追。已而，已而！今之從政者殆而！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
楚狂接舆歌而过孔子曰：「凤兮！凤兮！何德之衰？往者不可谏，来者犹可追。已而，已而！今之从政者殆而！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chǔ kuáng Jiē Yú gē ér guò Kǒngzǐ yuē: “Fèng xī! Fèng xī! Hé dé zhī shuāi? Wǎng zhě bùkě jiàn, lái zhě yóu kě zhuī. yǐ'ér, yǐ'ér! Jīn zhī cóngzhèngzhě dài ér!”
The madman of Chu, Jie Yu (接輿), passed by Confucius, singing and saying, "O Feng! O Feng! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but the future may still be provided against. Give up your vain pursuit. Give up your vain pursuit. Peril awaits those who now engage in affairs of government."

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
    • (Standard Chinese)+
      • Hanyu Pinyin: wǎngzhě bùkějí láizhě yóu kědài dài
      • Zhuyin: ㄨㄤˇ ㄓㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄞˋ
      • Tongyong Pinyin: wǎngjhě bùkějí láijhě yóu kědài dài
      • Wade–Giles: wang3-chê3 pu4-kʻo3-chi2 lai2-chê3 yu2 kʻo3-tai4 tai4
      • Yale: wǎng-jě bù-kě-jí lái-jě yóu kě-dài dài
      • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: woangjee bukeejyi laijee you keeday day
      • Palladius: ванчжэ букэцзи лайчжэ ю кэдай дай (vančžɛ bukɛczi lajčžɛ ju kɛdaj daj)
      • Sinological IPA (key): /wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/
This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!
Particularly: “Cantonese”

Idiom

往者不可及，來者猶可待

  1. One cannot change the past, only the future.
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