養兵千日，用在一朝 yǎng bīng qiān rì ， yòng zài yī zhāo

long preparation for a key moment

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. train an army for a thousand days to use it for one morning (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. extensive preparation eventually pays off

Characters

Character Meaning
養 yǎng
to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to keep (pets)
兵 bīng HSK 5
soldiers; military; weapons
千 qiān HSK 2
thousand; see 秋千qiū qiān
日 rì HSK 2
day; date, day of the month; sun
用 yòng HSK 3
to use; to employ; to have to
在 zài HSK 1
(located) at; (to be) in
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
朝 zhāo HSK 5
towards; facing; dynasty