# 亡羊补牢

wáng yáng bǔ láo

It’s still worth fixing a mistake

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Mend the pen after losing a sheep

**Traditional Chinese:** 亡羊補牢

**Register:** Encouraging · conversational

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Use to encourage action after a loss or mistake.

It means preventing another loss, not undoing the first one.

## Behind the words

Strategies of the Warring States uses a damaged sheep enclosure to explain why late repair still matters. A loss can be a reason to correct the problem.

The lost sheep cannot be recovered merely by repairing the enclosure. The value of the repair lies in protecting the sheep that remain. This makes the expression a practical response to regret: recognize the failure, fix its cause, and prevent repetition. It often appears in encouragement after a mistake, but does not excuse ignoring a problem until damage occurs.

## Examples

发现预算出了问题，现在调整也算亡羊补牢。

### Traditional Chinese

發現預算出了問題，現在調整也算亡羊補牢。

fā xiàn yù suàn chū le wèn tí ， xiàn zài tiáo zhěng yě suàn wáng yáng bǔ láo 。

We found a problem with the budget; adjusting it now can still prevent further damage.

账号被盗以后，他立刻改了密码，总算亡羊补牢。

### Traditional Chinese

賬號被盜以後，他立刻改了密碼，總算亡羊補牢。

zhàng hào bèi dào yǐ hòu ， tā lì kè gǎi le mì mǎ ， zǒng suàn wáng yáng bǔ láo 。

After his account was stolen, he changed the password immediately to prevent another loss.

这次漏水提醒我们检查屋顶，现在维修还算亡羊补牢。

### Traditional Chinese

這次漏水提醒我們檢查屋頂，現在維修還算亡羊補牢。

zhè cì lòu shuǐ tí xǐng wǒ men jiǎn chá wū dǐng ， xiàn zài wéi xiū hái suàn wáng yáng bǔ láo 。

The leak reminded us to inspect the roof; repairing it now can still prevent further damage.

虽然第一次考试没过，认真补上基础也算亡羊补牢。

### Traditional Chinese

雖然第一次考試沒過，認真補上基礎也算亡羊補牢。

suī rán dì yī cì kǎo shì méi guò ， rèn zhēn bǔ shàng jī chǔ yě suàn wáng yáng bǔ láo 。

Although he failed the first exam, strengthening his basics can still prevent the same mistake.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=482&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%BA%A1%E7%BE%8A%E8%A3%9C%E7%89%A2)

## Keep exploring

- [危如累卵 wēi rú lěi luǎn Be in an extremely precarious state ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wei-ru-lei-luan)

- [物极必反 wù jí bì fǎn An extreme may lead to a reversal ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wu-ji-bi-fan)

- [喜出望外 xǐ chū wàng wài Delighted by an unexpectedly good outcome ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xi-chu-wang-wai)

- [洗心革面 xǐ xīn gé miàn Reform oneself thoroughly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xi-xin-ge-mian)

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