How do you pronounce 未雨绸缪?

未雨绸缪 is pronounced as "wèi yǔ chóu móu" in Mandarin Chinese.

未雨绸缪

Q: What does 未雨绸缪 mean?

未雨绸缪 (wèi yǔ chóu móu) literally means "Mend the windows before it rains" and metaphorically means "Prepare before problems arise". It belongs to the Life Philosophy category of Chinese idioms.

Q: When is 未雨绸缪 used?

未雨绸缪 is used when She saved money each month for unexpected expenses.

未雨绸缪 (wèi yǔ chóu móu) literally means “mend the windows before it rains” and expresses “prepare before problems arise”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.

Also searched as: wei yu chou mou, wei yu chou mou,未雨绸缪 meaning, 未雨绸缪 in english

Prepare before problems arise

Pronunciation: wèi yǔ chóu móu Literal meaning: Mend the windows before it rains

Origin & Usage

This one comes from the Book of Songs, where a bird strips mulberry roots to bind (绸缪) its window and door before (未) the rain (雨) comes. The bird is speaking after already losing its young, which gives the image its urgency: preparation is described by something that has learned the hard way. Note it is the Book of Songs, not the Book of Changes. Precautions taken while there is still time to take them, with the note of hard experience still attached.

Examples

English: "She saved money each month for unexpected expenses"

Chinese: 她每月存钱以备不时之需

Related Chinese Idioms

Similar idioms about life philosophy

胸有成竹

xiōng yǒu chéng zhú

Have clear plan beforehand

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防患未然

fáng huàn wèi rán

Prepare in advance

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好逸恶劳

hào yì wù láo

Shirk effort by preference

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近水楼台

jìn shuǐ lóu tái

Advantage from close connections

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望梅止渴

wàng méi zhǐ kě

Console with false hopes

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柳暗花明

liǔ àn huā míng

Hope appears in darkness

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知足常乐

zhī zú cháng lè

Contentment with what one has brings happiness

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前所未有

qián suǒ wèi yǒu

Unprecedented; never seen before

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 未雨绸缪 mean in English?

未雨绸缪 (wèi yǔ chóu móu) literally translates to “Mend the windows before it rains” and is used to express “Prepare before problems arise”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.