事不过三

a thing should not be attempted more than three times (idiom) / don't repeat the same mistake again and again / bad things don't happen more than three times

matter / thing / item / work / affair / CL:件[jian4],樁|桩[zhuang1],回[hui2]

no; not so / (bound form) not; un-

only / merely / no more than / but / however / anyway (to get back to a previous topic) / cannot be more (after adjectival)

surname Guo

to cross / to go over / to pass (time) / to celebrate (a holiday) / to live / to get along / excessively / too-

(experienced action marker)

three / 3