decayed wood cannot be carved -- a useless fellow.; a useless man cannot be made good.; a helpless case; an intractable person; an unteachable pupil; a useless fellow [man; person]; one cannot carve in rotten wood
Related Translations:
朽木: 1.(烂木头) rotten wood or tree2.(不可造就的人) a hopeless case; a good-for-nothing
朽木粪土: decayed wood or manure -- a worthless fellow; a worthless person (指人); rotten wood and dirt; useless stuff [things] (指物)