xiǔ​mù​bù​kě​diāo

you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

Senses

朽木不可雕 xiǔ​mù​bù​kě​diāo you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

(idiom) literally "rotten wood cannot be carved," meaning a person is so worthless or stubborn that they cannot be taught or improved; used to describe someone who is beyond help or lacks any potential

References

variant 朽木不可雕/朽木不可雕 朽木不可雕也/朽木不可雕也
see 朽木/朽木 朽木不可雕/朽木不可雕
variant 朽木不雕/朽木不雕 朽木不可雕/朽木不可雕