# 釜底抽薪

fǔ dǐ chōu xīn

Remove the underlying cause of a problem

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Pull firewood from beneath the pot

**Register:** Strategic · general

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

## When to use it

Describe a solution that removes the source sustaining trouble.

May also describe undermining support; context determines the value.

## Understanding the expression

A boiling pot depends on the fire underneath it. Removing the fuel changes the source rather than repeatedly dealing with the boiling surface. The expression describes tackling a problem at its root, such as cutting off fraudulent payments or removing a recurring fault. It can also describe an adversarial move that deprives someone of support. The important feature is the sustaining cause, so a merely cosmetic adjustment does not fit the image well.

## Examples

改掉重复录入的流程，才能对错误釜底抽薪。

### Traditional Chinese

改掉重複錄入的流程，才能對錯誤釜底抽薪。

gǎi diào chóng fù lù rù de liú chéng ， cái néng duì cuò wù fǔ dǐ chōu xīn 。

Removing duplicate data entry addresses the errors at their source.

修好漏水点才是釜底抽薪。

### Traditional Chinese

修好漏水點才是釜底抽薪。

xiū hǎo lòu shuǐ diǎn cái shì fǔ dǐ chōu xīn 。

Repairing the leak addresses the underlying cause.

取消补贴对那家公司是釜底抽薪。

### Traditional Chinese

取消補貼對那家公司是釜底抽薪。

qǔ xiāo bǔ tiē duì nà jiā gōng sī shì fǔ dǐ chōu xīn 。

Removing the subsidy deprives the company of essential support.

别只删消息，要釜底抽薪地处理漏洞。

### Traditional Chinese

別隻刪消息，要釜底抽薪地處理漏洞。

bié zhī shān xiāo xī ， yào fǔ dǐ chōu xīn dì chǔ lǐ lòu dòng 。

Fix the vulnerability instead of merely deleting messages.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%87%9C%E5%BA%95%E6%8A%BD%E8%96%AA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=689&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [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)

- [顾此失彼 gù cǐ shī bǐ Attend to one thing and neglect another ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gu-ci-shi-bi)

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