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未雨綢繆. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
未雨綢繆, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
未雨綢繆 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
未雨綢繆 you have here. The definition of the word
未雨綢繆 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
未雨綢繆, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Etymology
From the Classic of Poetry, poem 155 (《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》):
迨天之未陰雨，徹彼桑土，綢繆牖戶。
迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户。 - From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Dài tiān zhī wèi yīnyǔ, chè bǐ sāngdù, chóumóu yǒuhù.
- Before the sky was dark with rain,
I gathered the roots of the mulberry tree,
And bound round and round my window and door.
Pronunciation
Idiom
未雨綢繆
- (figurative) to plan ahead; to prepare before it is too late; to take precautions
未雨綢繆才能臨危不亂。
未雨绸缪才能临危不乱。 - Wèiyǔchóumóu cái néng línwēibùluàn.
- Only by taking precautions can you remain calm in the face of danger.
宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。
宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。 - From: Zhu Yongchun, Zhu Zi's Family Maxims, 17th century CE
- Yí wèi yǔ ér chóumóu, wú lín kě ér jué jǐng.
- One should, when it is not yet raining, bind tightly the window. One should not wait until one is thirsty to dig a well.
i.e. One should prepare before it is too late.
Antonyms
Descendants
Japanese
| Alternative spelling
|
| 綢繆未雨
|
Idiom
未雨綢繆 • (miuchūbyū)
- to prepare before it is too late
Antonyms