# 防微杜渐

fáng wēi dù jiàn

Stop a small problem before it grows

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Guard against the slight and block gradual growth

**Traditional Chinese:** 防微杜漸

**Register:** Practical · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Use for addressing early signs of a harmful development.

It is usually applied to problems, not healthy gradual growth.

## Behind the words

The image links tiny beginnings with gradual development. Traditional advice makes early intervention easier than dealing with a large problem later.

微 points to a small sign, and 渐 to gradual development. The idiom concerns intervening at an early stage so that a harmful pattern does not become established. Unlike purely preparing for a hypothetical future event, it often responds to an initial warning already visible. The response should match the evidence rather than overreact to harmless differences.

## Examples

发现流程中的小漏洞，就要防微杜渐。

### Traditional Chinese

發現流程中的小漏洞，就要防微杜漸。

fā xiàn liú chéng zhōng de xiǎo lòu dòng ， jiù yào fáng wēi dù jiàn 。

When small gaps appear in the process, address them before they grow.

小问题及时修正，才能防微杜渐。

### Traditional Chinese

小問題及時修正，才能防微杜漸。

xiǎo wèn tí jí shí xiū zhèng ， cái néng fáng wēi dù jiàn 。

Correcting small problems early prevents them from growing.

学校发现欺凌苗头后立即处理，防微杜渐。

### Traditional Chinese

學校發現欺凌苗頭後立即處理，防微杜漸。

xué xiào fā xiàn qī líng miáo tou hòu lì jí chǔ lǐ ， fáng wēi dù jiàn 。

The school addressed early signs of bullying to prevent escalation.

定期检查财务记录，有助于防微杜渐。

### Traditional Chinese

定期檢查財務記錄，有助於防微杜漸。

dìng qī jiǎn chá cái wù jì lù ， yǒu zhù yú fáng wēi dù jiàn 。

Regular checks of financial records help stop problems before they develop.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=313&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%98%B2%E5%BE%AE%E6%9D%9C%E6%BC%B8)

## Keep exploring

- [釜底抽薪 fǔ dǐ chōu xīn Remove the underlying cause of a problem ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/fu-di-chou-xin)

- [覆水难收 fù shuǐ nán shōu An irreversible act cannot easily be undone ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/fu-shui-nan-shou)

- [隔靴搔痒 gé xuē sāo yǎng Address a problem ineffectively or superficially ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ge-xue-sao-yang)

- [苟且偷安 gǒu qiě tōu ān Seek temporary ease while neglecting serious duties ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gou-qie-tou-an)

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