026Japanese proverb ことわざ
覆水盆に返らず
ふくすいぼんにかえらずFukusui bon ni kaerazu
“Spilled water does not return to the tray.”
The meaning
Some things, once done, cannot be undone. Rather than trying to reclaim the irreparable, draw the lesson and act better now.
At the origin
A proverb from an ancient Chinese anecdote, long part of common Japanese usage.
The characters
In practice
Stop replaying the irreversible; ask what still depends on you.
Editorial note
Ancient Chinese origin.