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 朽木不可雕也 xiǔmùbùkědiāoyě rotten wood cannot be carved rotten wood cannot be carved; a person is so worthless or stubborn that they cannot be educated or reformed