抱薪救火
抱薪救火 (bào xīn jiù huǒ) literally means “carry wood save fire” and expresses “make situation worse”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: bao xin jiu huo, bao xin jiu huo,抱薪救火 meaning, 抱薪救火 in english
Make situation worse
Pronunciation: bào xīn jiù huǒ
Literal meaning: Carry wood save fire
Origin & Usage
This paradoxical image of carrying (抱) firewood (薪) to extinguish (救) a fire (火) emerged during the Warring States period as a metaphor for self-defeating actions. Historical records show it being used to criticize policies that appeared helpful but actually worsened situations. The image was particularly powerful in ancient China, where wood was both essential fuel and a major fire hazard in urban areas. Today, it describes counterproductive solutions that aggravate the problems they attempt to solve, from misguided economic policies to relationship interventions that increase conflict.
Examples
English: "Their hasty solution only complicated the existing issues"
Chinese: 他们仓促的解决方案只是使现有问题更加复杂
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 抱薪救火 mean in English?
抱薪救火 (bào xīn jiù huǒ) literally translates to “Carry wood save fire” and is used to express “Make situation worse”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 抱薪救火 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving make situation worse.
What is the pinyin for 抱薪救火?
The pinyin pronunciation for 抱薪救火 is “bào xīn jiù huǒ”.