朽木不可雕 xiǔ mù bù kě diāo

DEFINITIONS

  1. a decayed tree cannot be carved; a hopeless case

CHARACTERS

朽 xiǔ
HSK 6
decayed, rotten; rot, decay
木 mù
HSK 5
tree; wood, lumber; wooden
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
可 kě
HSK 2
may, can, -able; possibly
雕 diāo
HSK 6
engrave, inlay, carve; exhaust; used for U+9D70 鵰 an eagle, vulture