Japanese meaning of 覆水盆に返らず
Reading:
ふくすいぼんにかえらず (fukusui bon ni kaerazu)
English Translation:
What’s done is done
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
What’s done is done.
Cultural Context:
Found in Japanese sayings and stories that teach acceptance of irreversible events.
一度起きたことは元に戻せないという意味。
不可逆な出来事を受け入れる教訓として、日本の諺や物語にも登場する。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 覆水 (fukusui) = “spilled water” (noun)
• 盆 (bon) = “tray” or “basin” (noun)
• に (ni) = particle indicating the target or place
• 返らず (kaerazu) = classical negative form of 返る (kaeru, “to return”), meaning “does not return”
A noun phrase + particle + classical negative verb, expressing irreversibility.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken as actually pouring water back, missing the idea of irreversibility.
Example
Basic Example
メールを誤送信しちゃった…覆水盆に返らず。
I sent the email to the wrong list—What’s done is done.
Applied Example
レア素材を売っちゃった？覆水盆に返らずだ。
Sold the rare material by mistake—What’s done is done.