# 隔岸观火

gé àn guān huǒ

Remain detached while others face trouble

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Watch a fire from across the river

**Traditional Chinese:** 隔岸觀火

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize withholding involvement or waiting out a conflict.

Observing safely can be sensible in a literal emergency.

## Understanding the expression

The observer stands safely across the water while a fire affects someone else. Figuratively, the phrase describes keeping distance from another person’s difficulty or a struggle among rivals. It may suggest indifference, or a calculation that others will weaken each other before the observer acts. The criticism depends on responsibility and ability to help. In an actual fire, keeping safe and calling trained responders may be the right action rather than cowardice.

## Examples

邻居求助，他却隔岸观火。

### Traditional Chinese

鄰居求助，他卻隔岸觀火。

lín jū qiú zhù ， tā què gé àn guān huǒ 。

His neighbor asked for help, but he stayed detached.

两家竞争时，第三家隔岸观火。

### Traditional Chinese

兩家競爭時，第三家隔岸觀火。

liǎng jiā jìng zhēng shí ， dì sān jiā gé àn guān huǒ 。

While two companies competed, a third watched from the sidelines.

团队遇到困难，不能隔岸观火。

### Traditional Chinese

團隊遇到困難，不能隔岸觀火。

tuán duì yù dào kùn nán ， bù néng gé àn guān huǒ 。

You cannot stand aside when the team is in trouble.

她拒绝隔岸观火，主动协调纠纷。

### Traditional Chinese

她拒絕隔岸觀火，主動協調糾紛。

tā jù jué gé àn guān huǒ ， zhǔ dòng xié tiáo jiū fēn 。

She refused to remain uninvolved and actively mediated the dispute.

## 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%9A%94%E5%B2%B8%E8%A7%80%E7%81%AB)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=762&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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