曲突徙薪 qū tū xǐ xīn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to bend the chimney and remove the firewood (to prevent fire) (idiom)
  2. fig. to take preventive measures

CHARACTERS

曲 qū
HSK 6
crooked, bent; wrong, false
突 tū
HSK 3
suddenly, abruptly, unexpectedly
徙 xǐ
HSK 6
move one's abode, shift, migrate
薪 xīn
HSK 6
fuel, firewood; salary