slow action can't meet urgent needs; too little, too late
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
slow measures cannot meet urgent needs; too little, too late
formalEmphasizes the inadequacy of slow, delayed, or insufficient action in an emergency or crisis. Often used as a criticism.
Zāi灾
qíng情
yán严
zhòng重
，
wài外
bù部
de的
yuán援
zhù助
suī虽
rán然
hěn很
hǎo好
，
dàn但
cháng常
cháng常
shì是
huǎn缓
bù不
jì济
jí急
。
The disaster is severe; although external aid is good, it often comes too late to be of immediate help.
Gōng公
sī司
zī资
jīn金
liàn链
kuài快
duàn断
le了
，
yín银
háng行
dài贷
kuǎn款
shěn审
pī批
liú流
chéng程
tài太
cháng长
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
huǎn缓
bù不
jì济
jí急
。
The company's cash flow is about to break; the bank loan approval process is too long, it simply can't meet the urgent need.
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Xiàn现
zài在
cái才
yán研
jiū究
jiě解
jué决
fāng方
àn案
，
duì对
yú于
yǐ已
jīng经
fā发
shēng生
de的
wèn问
tí题
lái来
shuō说
，
wú无
yí疑
shì是
huǎn缓
bù不
jì济
jí急
。
Only now researching a solution is undoubtedly too little, too late for a problem that has already occurred.
Lín临
kě渴
jué掘
jǐng井
，
huǎn缓
bù不
jì济
jí急
。
To dig a well when you're thirsty is too little, too late. (i.e., Acting too late is useless.)