马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào): (Chinese chess) moving the cannon after moving the horse away; (fig.) a useless action or comment; sth done after it's too late; variant of 馬後炮|马后炮[ma3 hou4 pao4]

Word info

Pinyin

mǎhòupào

Meaning

(Chinese chess) moving the cannon after moving the horse away; (fig.) a useless action or comment; sth done after it's too late; variant of 馬後炮|马后炮[ma3 hou4 pao4]

Characters

3

Part of speech

noun

HSK level

HSK 7

Chinese explanation

• 原指中国象棋中马已经跳开后才走炮的着法，这种走法往往为时已晚、无济于事
• 比喻事情发生或结束后才提出意见、采取措施，含有事后才行动、不起作用的意思。