朽木不可雕 xiǔmùbùkědiāo you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 朽木 xiǔmù rotten wood rotten wood; decayed timber不可 bùkě auxiliaryadjective cannot to be unable to; to be impossible雕 diāo verb to carve to carve or engrave; to decorate with carvings