远水不解近渴 — “Distant help is no cure for immediate problems”
远水不解近渴 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Distant help is no cure for immediate problems”. A slow remedy cannot meet an urgent need. Literally, “Distant water cannot quench a nearby thirst”.
Frequency
远水不解近渴 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 远yuǎn
- 水shuǐ
- 不bù
- 解jiě
- 近jìn
- 渴kě
远水不解近渴 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 远水不解近渴
公司急需资金周转，指望几个月后的投资远水不解近渴，我们得想办法解决眼前的问题。
The company urgently needs working capital; relying on investment several months from now is distant help for immediate problems, so we must find a way to solve the current issue.
Origin and Story of 远水不解近渴
During the Warring States period, Zhuangzi was traveling and saw a live crucian carp struggling in a cart rut.
The carp pleaded for help, asking Zhuangzi to find a liter of water to save its life.
Zhuangzi replied that he would go to the states of Wu and Yue, and on his way back, he would bring back a large amount of water from the Jin River.
The carp became anxious, saying, 'That would be like distant water that cannot quench a nearby thirst. By the time the Jin River's water arrives, I will have already become a dried fish!'
Idioms Related to 远水不解近渴
Synonyms of 远水不解近渴
Antonyms of 远水不解近渴
More idioms starting with 远
- yuǎn远bù不jiàn间qīn亲Outsiders don't interfere with close relations
- yuǎn远jǔ举gāo高fēi飞fly far and high to a better future
- yuǎn远jiāo交jìn近gōng攻ally distant, attack near
- yuǎn远qīn亲bù不rú如jìn近lín邻Near neighbors are better than distant relatives
- yuǎn远qīn亲jìn近yǒu友Distant relatives and close friends
- yuǎn远qīn亲jìn近lín邻distant relatives, close neighbors
- yuǎn远tú图zhǎng长lǜ虑plan and consider long-term
- yuǎn远zài在qiān千lǐ里，，jìn近zài在mù目qián前Perception makes things far or near
- yuǎn远zài在tiān天biān边，，jìn近zài在yǎn眼qián前far away yet right before you
- yuǎn远chuí垂bù不xiǔ朽achieve lasting fame
- yuǎn远chù处kuā夸chēng称，，jìn近fāng方mài卖nong弄boast and show off everywhere
Questions about 远水不解近渴
- What does 远水不解近渴 mean?
- 远水不解近渴 (yuǎn shuǐ bù jiě jìn kě) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Distant help is no cure for immediate problems”.
- How do you pronounce 远水不解近渴?
- 远水不解近渴 is pronounced yuǎn shuǐ bù jiě jìn kě in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 远水不解近渴 literally mean?
- Literally, 远水不解近渴 means “Distant water cannot quench a nearby thirst”. It is used to mean “Distant help is no cure for immediate problems”.
- Where does 远水不解近渴 come from?
- 远水不解近渴 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 远水不解近渴?
- 比喻慢的办法救不了急。