take away the firewood from under the cauldron; solve a problem from its root
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to take drastic measures to solve a problem at its root; to address the fundamental cause
formalThis idiom emphasizes solving a problem by removing its source, rather than just treating the symptoms. It is used in both formal writing and speeches.
Yào要
jiě解
jué决
huán环
jìng境
wū污
rǎn染
，
bì必
xū须
fǔ釜
dǐ底
chōu抽
xīn薪
，
cóng从
yuán源
tóu头
jiǎn减
shǎo少
pái排
fàng放
。
To solve environmental pollution, we must take away the firewood from under the cauldron—that is, reduce emissions from the source.
Gōng公
sī司
cái财
wù务
wēi危
jī机
yán严
zhòng重
，
dǒng董
shì事
huì会
jué决
dìng定
fǔ釜
dǐ底
chōu抽
xīn薪
，
chū出
shòu售
fēi非
hé核
xīn心
yè业
wù务
。
The company's financial crisis is severe, so the board decided to take drastic measures by selling off non-core businesses.
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Yǔ与
qí其
yáng扬
tāng汤
zhǐ止
fèi沸
，
bù不
rú如
fǔ釜
dǐ底
chōu抽
xīn薪
。
Rather than trying to stop the pot from boiling by skimming off the foam (a temporary fix), it's better to take away the firewood from underneath (a fundamental solution).