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一發而不可收

简一发而不可收 · 繁一發而不可收

Mandarin · pinyin yī fā ér bù kě shōu

to be impossible to stop once started

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Characters in this entry

一: yī · one; a, an; alone
發: fā · issue, dispatch, send out, emit
而: ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
收: shōu · gather together, collect; harvest
发: fā · issue, dispatch, send out; hair

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–1–2–4–3–1 · yi1 fa1 er2 bu4 ke3 shou1

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