狡兔三窟

jiǎotù-sānkū
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 a crafty rabbit has three burrows
  2. 2 have multiple hideouts or fallback plans
  3. 3 always keep an escape route

Examples

HSK 1
Tā zài hǎojǐ gè guójiā dōu yǒu fángzi, zhēnshì jiǎotù-sānkū.
He owns houses in several countries, a truly crafty fellow with many hideouts.
HSK 7-9
Zuòshēngyì yào jiǎotù-sānkū, bùnéng bǎ jīdàn fàngzài yígè lánzi lǐ.
In business you need multiple backup plans, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Tips

history
From 《战国策·齐策四》 (Strategies of the Warring States), where retainer Feng Xuan advises Lord Mengchang of Qi that a clever rabbit has three burrows and so should a wise ruler maintain multiple safeguards against political disaster.

Stroke Order

jiǎo
sān