未雨绸缪

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”