遠水救不了近火 yuǎn shuǐ jiù bu liǎo jìn huǒ

distant help can’t solve a near problem

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. water in a distant place is of little use in putting out a fire right here
  2. 2. (fig.) a slow remedy does not address the current emergency

Characters

Character Meaning
遠 yuǎn
far; distant; remote
水 shuǐ HSK 1
water; liquid; beverage
救 jiù HSK 5
to save; to rescue; to assist
不 bu HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
了 liǎo HSK 1
(completed action marker)
近 jìn HSK 2
near; close to; approximately
火 huǒ HSK 2
fire; hot (popular); fiery or flaming