未雨绸缪
Wèi yǔ chóu móu
"Bind the nest before the rain"
Quick Answer
未雨绸缪 (Wèi yǔ chóu móu) — "Bind the nest before the rain." Literal translation: Before (未) rain (雨) bind (绸) thatch/mulberry (缪). The phrase originally referred to binding nests with mulberry bark before rain comes. This proverb emphasizes the importance of advance preparation. Rather than waiting for problems to arise and then scrambling to address them, we should anticipate challenges and prepare solutions in advance.
Character Analysis
Before (未) rain (雨) bind (绸) thatch/mulberry (缪). The phrase originally referred to binding nests with mulberry bark before rain comes.
Meaning & Significance
This proverb emphasizes the importance of advance preparation. Rather than waiting for problems to arise and then scrambling to address them, we should anticipate challenges and prepare solutions in advance.
Historical Origin
About This Entry
This proverb originates from the Book of Songs (诗经), China’s oldest existing collection of poetry, dating back to around 1000 BCE.
The Original Poem
The poem “Owl” (鸱鸮) contains these lines:
迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户。
“Before the sky clouds over with rain, strip the mulberry bark, and bind the nest securely.”
The poem is written from the perspective of a mother bird preparing her nest before the storm.
Usage Examples
Financial planning:
“年轻人应该未雨绸缪，早点开始存钱。” “Young people should prepare before the rain—start saving early.”
Career development:
“未雨绸缪，我要趁早学习新技能。” “Prepare before the rain—I should learn new skills early.”
Modern Applications
This proverb is frequently used in emergency preparedness, financial planning, career development, and health.
Contrast with Western Thinking
English has similar expressions like “save for a rainy day” or “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” but the Chinese version evokes the image of a bird carefully binding its nest.
Related Sayings
- 居安思危 (Jū ān sī wēi) - “Think of danger in times of peace”
- 有备无患 (Yǒu bèi wú huàn) - “Preparedness prevents calamity”
- 防患于未然 (Fáng huàn yú wèi rán) - “Prevent trouble before it happens”
See Also
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "未雨绸缪" mean in English?
Bind the nest before the rain
How do you pronounce "未雨绸缪"?
The pinyin pronunciation is: Wèi yǔ chóu móu
What is the deeper meaning of "未雨绸缪"?
This proverb emphasizes the importance of advance preparation. Rather than waiting for problems to arise and then scrambling to address them, we should anticipate challenges and prepare solutions in advance.
What is the literal translation of "未雨绸缪"?
Before (未) rain (雨) bind (绸) thatch/mulberry (缪). The phrase originally referred to binding nests with mulberry bark before rain comes.
Where does "未雨绸缪" come from?
This proverb originates from 诗经 (Book of Songs / Classic of Poetry) (Zhou dynasty (~11th-7th century BCE)), attributed to Various; compiled by Confucius tradition.
Related Proverbs
机不可失，时不再来
jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái
"Opportunities cannot be lost; time does not come again"
十年树木，百年树人
Shí nián shù mù, bǎi nián shù rén
"It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to rear people"
三十年河东，三十年河西
Sān shí nián hé dōng, sān shí nián hé xī
"Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west—the winds of fortune shift with time"
天有不测风云
Tiān yǒu bù cè fēng yún
"The heavens have unpredictable winds and clouds"
天无绝人之路
Tiān wú jué rén zhī lù
"Heaven never blocks all paths for a person; there is always a way out"
弹指一挥间
Tánzhǐ yī huī jiān
"In the time it takes to snap one's fingers"