# 燃眉之急

rán méi zhī jí

A pressing emergency

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** An urgent fire at the eyebrows

**Register:** Urgent · general

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

## When to use it

Describe a problem needing immediate relief.

Stronger than a merely important future task.

## Understanding the expression

Fire reaching the eyebrows is close enough to demand action now. There is no comfortable time for delay. The expression describes urgent needs such as food, shelter, funds, or repairs when waiting would cause immediate harm. It often appears with help that brings temporary relief. Solving the urgent part may not remove the larger cause, so a short response and a lasting solution can still be different tasks.

## Examples

这笔钱解了我们的燃眉之急。

### Traditional Chinese

這筆錢解了我們的燃眉之急。

zhè bǐ qián jiě le wǒ men de rán méi zhī jí 。

This money relieved our immediate emergency.

修好水管是燃眉之急。

xiū hǎo shuǐ guǎn shì rán méi zhī jí 。

Repairing the water pipe is urgently necessary.

临时住房解决了燃眉之急。

### Traditional Chinese

臨時住房解決了燃眉之急。

lín shí zhù fáng jiě jué le rán méi zhī jí 。

Temporary housing met the urgent need.

先处理燃眉之急，再讨论长期计划。

### Traditional Chinese

先處理燃眉之急，再討論長期計劃。

xiān chǔ lǐ rán méi zhī jí ， zài tǎo lùn cháng qī jì huà 。

Handle the emergency first, then discuss long term plans.

## 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=%E7%87%83%E7%9C%89%E4%B9%8B%E6%80%A5)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=122&webMd=1&la=0)

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