Chinese Idiom: 未雨绸缪 (Wei Yu Chou Mo)
English Translation: Repair the house before it rains
pīn yīn: wèi yǔ chóu móu
Idiom Meaning: This idiom means to make preparations in advance before trouble or difficulties arise. It emphasizes the importance of being proactive and prepared for potential problems.
Historical Source: 《诗经 · 豳风 · 鸱鸮》 (The Book of Songs, Binn Song, The Owl).
Idiom Story:
During the Western Zhou period, in a place called 豳 (Bīn), which is in present-day Shaanxi province, there was a fable about a diligent and kind-hearted female bird. This bird worked hard to care for her young chicks. Anticipating future troubles, she began preparing her nest while the weather was still clear and dry. She collected mulberry roots and reinforced her nest to make it strong and secure against any upcoming storms.
The story was later crafted into a poem titled 《鸱鸮》 (The Owl), which depicts the bird’s efforts. The poem is divided into four sections, totaling twenty lines. The first and second sections describe the bird’s warning against the owl that preys on them and her preparations to fortify the nest:
- 鸱鸮鸱鸮，既取我子，无毁我室。恩斯勤斯，鬻子之闵斯!
- Direct Translation: “Owl, owl! You have taken my young, so do not destroy my nest. I have worked hard to nurture my young, my labor has been intense.”
- 迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户。今女下民，或敢侮予?
- Direct Translation: “Before the sky turns cloudy and it rains, I will strip the mulberry roots and repair the cracks in my nest. From now on, who among the people below would dare to insult me?”
The poem expresses the bird’s diligent preparation and her hope that by taking such precautions, she can protect her nest from being harmed further. The idiom “未雨绸缪” is derived from these lines, capturing the essence of taking early action to prevent future difficulties.
