Etymology

Literally "spilt water does not return to the basin"

Based on an old Chinese story, where a wife leaves her husband (Jiang Ziya by one account) because he spent all his time reading books and didn't work. When the man eventually achieved success, the woman came to ask for remarriage. The man replied by spilling the water from a basin on the floor and saying: "If you can put this water back in the basin, I will consider your request."

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɸɯᵝkɯᵝsɯᵝi bõ̞n ni ka̠e̞ɾ̠a̠zɯᵝ]