xiǔ mù bù kě diāo
lit. rotten wood cannot be carved (idiom)
fig. you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
朽
xiǔ
rotten
木
mù
(bound form) tree
不
bù
no; not so
可
kě
(prefix) can; may; able to; -able
雕
diāo
bird of prey
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