distant water cannot save nearby fire; slow solutions fail urgent needs
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
distant water cannot put out a nearby fire; a slow or distant solution cannot meet an urgent need
Metaphorically indicates that resources or help that are too distant or delayed are ineffective for immediate crises. Also expressed as 远水不救近火.
Zāi灾
qū区
jí急
xū需
liáng粮
shi食
，
cóng从
wài外
dì地
diào调
yùn运
tài太
chí迟
，
zhēn真
shì是
yuǎn远
shuǐ水
jiù救
bù不
liǎo了
jìn近
huǒ火
。
The disaster area urgently needs grain; transporting it from elsewhere is too slow—truly a case of distant water being unable to put out a nearby fire.
Nǐ你
xiàn现
zài在
cái才
xiǎng想
qǐ起
zhǎo找
tā他
bāng帮
máng忙
，
yuǎn远
shuǐ水
jiù救
bù不
liǎo了
jìn近
huǒ火
，
lái来
bù不
jí及
le了
。
Only now do you think of asking him for help; it's like trying to extinguish a nearby fire with distant water—it's too late.
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Zhè这
shì事
děi得
mǎ马
shàng上
jiě解
jué决
，
děng等
shàng上
jí级
pī批
zhǔn准
jiù就
yuǎn远
shuǐ水
jiù救
bù不
liǎo了
jìn近
huǒ火
le了
。
This matter must be resolved immediately; waiting for approval from superiors would be like trying to put out a nearby fire with water from afar.