釜底抽薪
釜底抽薪 (fǔ dǐ chōu xīn) literally means “remove firewood under pot” and expresses “eliminate root cause of problem”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: fu di chou xin, fu di chou xin,釜底抽薪 meaning, 釜底抽薪 in english
Eliminate root cause of problem
Pronunciation: fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Literal meaning: Remove firewood under pot
Origin & Usage
This practical idiom describes removing (抽) firewood (薪) from under (底) a cooking pot (釜), originating from Wei-Jin period practical wisdom. Unlike dramatic interventions, it emphasized solving problems by eliminating their underlying causes. The cooking metaphor resonated deeply in Chinese culture, where food preparation metaphors often described governance and problem-solving. During the Tang Dynasty, it gained prominence in military texts advocating resource denial strategies over direct confrontation. Modern usage spans from political approaches to personal problem-solving, emphasizing how addressing fundamental enabling factors often proves more effective than combating surface manifestations. Unlike reactive approaches, it suggests proactive elimination of root causes.
Examples
English: "The new policy addressed the root causes rather than just treating symptoms"
Chinese: 新政策解决了根本原因，而不仅仅是治标不治本
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 釜底抽薪 mean in English?
釜底抽薪 (fǔ dǐ chōu xīn) literally translates to “Remove firewood under pot” and is used to express “Eliminate root cause of problem”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 釜底抽薪 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving eliminate root cause of problem.
What is the pinyin for 釜底抽薪?
The pinyin pronunciation for 釜底抽薪 is “fǔ dǐ chōu xīn”.