📖 Meaning
Being well-prepared in advance prevents danger or trouble. It emphasizes that taking precautions before problems arise is the best way to avoid harm. The idiom advocates proactive planning rather than reactive problem-solving.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Zuo Zhuan (左传), a foundational historical text covering the Spring and Autumn period (722–468 BC). In the passage, the statesman Shi Kuang (师旷) advises that one should prepare for adversity before it arrives, drawing a parallel to storing grain before famine. The full classical phrase reads '有备无患' directly. The text is attributed to Zuo Qiuming and records the history of the state of Lu.
💡 Example Usage
出门前检查一下天气预报，有备无患嘛。
Check the weather forecast before heading out — better safe than sorry.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 有备无患
- Pinyin: yǒu bèi wú huàn
- Literal Translation: have, preparation, no, trouble
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4