狡兔三窟
狡兔三窟 (jiǎo tù sān kū) literally means “clever rabbit has three burrows” and expresses “always have backup plans”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: jiao tu san ku, jiao tu san ku,狡兔三窟 meaning, 狡兔三窟 in english
Always have backup plans
Pronunciation: jiǎo tù sān kū Literal meaning: Clever rabbit has three burrows
Origin & Usage
This is from the Strategies of the Warring States, where the retainer Feng Xuan tells Lord Mengchang that a wily (狡) rabbit (兔) keeps three (三) burrows (窟), and merely manages to avoid death — one refuge is not enough for a man in his position either. Feng Xuan then builds him the other two. The advice is about redundancy rather than cunning: the rabbit is not clever, it is prepared. Keeping more than one line of retreat is the sense, and the tone is admiring rather than suspicious.
Examples
English: "The experienced businessman maintained multiple backup plans for every venture"
Chinese: 这位经验丰富的商人为每个投资项目都准备了多个备用方案
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
三思而行
sān sī ér xíng
Weigh it before you move
Learn more →
三省吾身
sān xǐng wú shēn
Self-reflect daily
Learn more →
三人成虎
sān rén chéng hǔ
Repeated lie becomes truth
Learn more →
入木三分
rù mù sān fēn
Profoundly penetrating insight
Learn more →
退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
Learn more →
绕梁三日
rào liáng sān rì
Lasting impact of performance
Learn more →
丢三落四
diū sān là sì
Habitually forgetful and disorganized
Learn more →
庖丁解牛
páo dīng jiě niú
Effortless skill through perfect practice
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 狡兔三窟 mean in English?
狡兔三窟 (jiǎo tù sān kū) literally translates to “Clever rabbit has three burrows” and is used to express “Always have backup plans”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 狡兔三窟 used?
Situation: The experienced businessman maintained multiple backup plans for every venture
What is the pinyin for 狡兔三窟?
The pinyin pronunciation for 狡兔三窟 is “jiǎo tù sān kū”.