# 未雨绸缪

wèi yǔ chóu móu

Prepare before trouble arrives

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Make repairs before it rains

**Traditional Chinese:** 未雨綢繆

**Register:** Positive · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use to praise preventive preparation.

It stresses readiness, not predicting every possible problem.

## Behind the words

The Book of Songs describes securing a nest before rain. The protective preparation becomes an image of planning ahead.

The traditional nest-building image presents protection prepared before rain arrives. The expression praises taking precautions while there is still time. It suits foreseeable problems for which advance action can reduce damage. Preparation need not mean pessimism: the point is making a reasonable plan rather than waiting until a difficulty becomes urgent.

## Examples

旺季还没开始，我们就要未雨绸缪。

### Traditional Chinese

旺季還沒開始，我們就要未雨綢繆。

wàng jì hái méi kāi shǐ ， wǒ men jiù yào wèi yǔ chóu móu 。

We should prepare now, before the busy season begins.

雨季还没到，我们就检查排水管，未雨绸缪。

### Traditional Chinese

雨季還沒到，我們就檢查排水管，未雨綢繆。

yǔ jì hái méi dào ， wǒ men jiù jiǎn chá pái shuǐ guǎn ， wèi yǔ chóu móu 。

We inspect the drains before the rainy season as an advance precaution.

她提前备份重要文件，算是未雨绸缪。

### Traditional Chinese

她提前備份重要文件，算是未雨綢繆。

tā tí qián bèi fèn zhòng yào wén jiàn ， suàn shì wèi yǔ chóu móu 。

She backs up important files in advance to prepare for possible problems.

为防止旺季缺人，公司提前培训，未雨绸缪。

### Traditional Chinese

為防止旺季缺人，公司提前培訓，未雨綢繆。

wèi fáng zhǐ wàng jì quē rén ， gōng sī tí qián péi xùn ， wèi yǔ chóu móu 。

The company trains staff early to prepare for possible shortages during the busy season.

## 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=97&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%9C%AA%E9%9B%A8%E7%B6%A2%E7%B9%86)

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