曲突徙薪

qūtū-xǐxīn
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 bend the chimney and move the firewood
  2. 2 to take preventive measures before disaster strikes

Examples

HSK 6
Wǒmen yīnggāi qūtūxǐxīn, tíqián fángfàn fēngxiǎn.
We should bend the chimney and move the firewood - take precautions before disaster comes.
HSK 6
Zhè fèn bàogào jiànyì gōngsī qūtūxǐxīn, bìmiǎn wēijī.
The report recommends that the company take preemptive measures to avoid a crisis.

Tips

history
From 《汉书·霍光传》: a visitor noticed a host's chimney ran straight up with firewood stacked beside it, and urged him to bend the chimney and move the wood. The host ignored the advice; a fire broke out. The host later rewarded the neighbors who helped douse it, but not the visitor who warned him, prompting the saying that prevention is worth more than fire-fighting heroics.

Stroke Order

xīn