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臨渴掘井

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: 临渴掘井

Chinese

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to face; to overlook; to arrive
to face; to overlook; to arrive; to be (just) about to; just before
 
thirsty to dig a well
trad. (臨渴掘井) 掘井
simp. (临渴掘井) 掘井
Literally: “to dig a well when one is thirsty”.

Etymology

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Based on the Annals of Master Yan:

而後而後問路臨難鑄兵掘井 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
而后而后问路临难铸兵掘井 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3rd century BCE
Nì érhòu wèn suì, mí érhòu wèn lù, pì zhī yóu línnàn ér jù zhùbīng, lín yē ér jù juéjǐng, suī sù yì wú jí yǐ. [Pinyin]
To ask the way after drowning and to ask for directions after getting lost is like, for example, quickly making weapons when facing a disaster or quickly digging a well when choking; though fast, it is too late.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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臨渴掘井

  1. (figurative) to fail to make a timely preparation and look for a solution at the last minute

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Descendants

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Sino-Xenic (臨渴掘井):