手遅れ (Teokure) is a Japanese noun meaning “being too late, losing one's final chance”.
Meanings
- nounbeing too late; losing one's final chance
Examples
もう手遅れだ。
The damage is done.
手後れにならないうちに、必要な措置を取るべきです。
We should take the necessary steps before it's too late.
Sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).