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.
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.
Related Proverbs
一寸光阴一寸金
Yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn
"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold"
秋后的蚂蚱，蹦跶不了几天
Qiū hòu de mà zha, bèng da bù liǎo jǐ tiān
"A grasshopper after autumn cannot jump around for many days"
一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨
Yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén
"The plan for a year lies in spring; the plan for a day lies in the morning"
活在当下
Huó zài dāng xià
"Exist fully in the here and now"
人无远虑，必有近忧
Rén wú yuǎn lǜ, bì yǒu jìn yōu
"A person without long-term concerns will surely have near worries"
光阴似箭
Guāng yīn sì jiàn
"Time flies like an arrow"