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Word 2267 of 4449

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手遅れ

ておくれ

too late; belated treatment

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. もう手遅れだ。

    もうておくれだ。

    It's already too late.

  2. 手遅れにならないうちに、必要な措置を取るべきです。

    ておくれにならないうちに、ひつようなそちをとるべきです。

    We should take the necessary steps before it's too late.

  3. 発見が遅く、手遅れの状態で病院に運ばれた。

    はっけんがおそく、ておくれのじょうたいでびょういんにはこばれた。

    It was found too late, and he was taken to hospital when nothing more could be done.

  4. 今から謝っても手遅れだと思うよ。

    いまからあやまってもておくれだとおもうよ。

    I think apologising now is too late.

Common patterns

手遅れになる
to become too late
手遅れだ
it's too late
手遅れにならないうちに
before it's too late

Memory tip

Literally 'the hand is late' — help that arrived after the point where it could still work. It is used for situations that can no longer be saved (illness, repairs, relationships), not for merely arriving late to an appointment, which is 遅刻.

Kanji in this word

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What does 手遅れ mean?