开弓没有回头箭 kāi gōng méi yǒu huí tóu jiàn

once started, can’t turn back

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. once you've shot the arrow, there's no getting it back (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. once you started sth, there's no turning back
  3. 3. to have to finish what one started
  4. 4. to be determined to reach one's goals in spite of setbacks

Characters

Character Meaning
开 kāi HSK 1
to open; to turn on; to start
弓 gōng
a bow (weapon); to bend; to arch (one's back etc)
没 méi HSK 1
not; (negative prefix for verbs); have not
有 yǒu HSK 1
to have; there is; there are
回 huí HSK 1
to go back; to return; to turn around
头 tóu HSK 3
head; the top; end
箭 jiàn HSK 6
arrow