Proverb / Kotowaza
後悔先に立たず
Regretting something after it is already done is useless because it cannot be undone.
Regret does not stand in front
Quick Answer
Regretting something after it is already done is useless because it cannot be undone.
- Literal Image
- Regret does not stand in front
- Closest Equivalent
- It is too late to lock the stable when the horse has been stolen
- How to Use It
- Used to warn someone to consider their actions carefully before acting, or to reflect on a situation where a mistake can no longer be corrected.
Meaning
This proverb emphasizes that once an action has been taken or an event has occurred, no amount of regret can change the outcome. It serves as a reminder that regret always arrives after the fact, making it impossible to undo the past. Therefore, one should think carefully before acting to avoid future remorse.
Literal Image
Regret does not stand in front
Equivalent Proverbs
It is too late to lock the stable when the horse has been stolen
Focuses on the futility of taking precautions after the damage is done.
A good thing is known when it is lost
Focuses on the realization of value only after something is gone.
How to Use It
Used to warn someone to consider their actions carefully before acting, or to reflect on a situation where a mistake can no longer be corrected.
Tone
Carries a cautionary and slightly moralizing tone, acting as a piece of practical advice to prevent future mistakes.
Examples
あの時もっと勉強しておけばよかったと思っても、後悔先に立たずだ。
Even if you think you should have studied harder back then, it is no use now; regret always comes too late.
後悔先に立たずというから、迷ったらやってみることにしている。
They say regret never comes first, so I make it a rule to give things a try whenever I am in doubt.
健康を損ねてから食生活を悔やんでも後悔先に立たずである。
Regretting your dietary habits after your health has already failed is a case of regret coming too late.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the N3 noun 'koukai' and the archaic negative verb ending '-zu'. The phrase is a straightforward grammatical structure but requires understanding the idiomatic logic of regret 'not standing in front'.
後悔
こうかい / koukai
regret; remorse
先
さき / saki
ahead; first; before
立たず
たたず / tatazu
does not stand (negative form of tatsu)
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Do not use this to express simple sympathy; it is specifically about the pointlessness of regret after an irreversible event has occurred.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.