病入膏肓

lit. the disease has attacked the vitals (idiom); fig. beyond cure / the situation is hopeless

illness / CL:場|场[chang2] / disease / to fall ill / defect

to enter / to go into / to join / to become a member of / to confirm or agree with / abbr. for 入聲|入声[ru4 sheng1]

ointment / paste / CL:帖[tie3]

to moisten / to grease / to apply (cream, ointment) / to dip a brush in ink

region between heart and diaphragm