防患于未然

防患於未然

fánghuànyúwèirán

idiom #33,522

Meanings

1 to prevent trouble before it occurs
2 to nip problems in the bud
3 preventive action

Characters

to prevent; to guard against

calamity; trouble

at; in (classical)

so; like this (classical)

Examples

HSK 5

定期体检有助于防患于未然。

Dìngqí tǐjiǎn yǒuzhùyú fánghuànyúwèirán.

Regular check-ups help catch problems before they start.

HSK 7-9

消防演习是为了防患于未然。

Xiāofáng yǎnxí shì wèile fánghuànyúwèirán.

Fire drills are meant to prevent disaster before it happens.

HSK 7-9

我们要居安思危，防患于未然。

Wǒmen yào jū'ānsīwēi, fánghuànyúwèirán.

We must stay alert even in peaceful times, and guard against trouble before it arises.

Tips

history

Built on 《周易·既济》: 君子以思患而豫防之 - the noble one considers future troubles and prepares against them in advance. The near-identical line 君子防未然 appears in 《乐府诗集·君子行》.

register

Formal and sententious. Fits policy language, safety briefings, and serious advice. In casual speech, 提前预防 conveys the same idea more colloquially.

Stroke Order

防 fáng

患 huàn

于 yú

未 wèi

然 rán