綢繆 [绸缪]

Jyutping cau4 mau4
Pinyin chóu móu

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. to be sentimentally attached to sb or sth
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. adj, ideophonic, literary
    numerous and dense; closely crowded
  2. adj, ideophonic, literary
    bound tightly; bound round and round; winding round
    • 未雨綢繆
      未雨绸缪
      wèi yǔ chóu móu
      to plan ahead (lit. to bind tightly the window before it rains)
  3. adj, literary
    extending into the distance; continuous; uninterrupted
  4. adj, figuratively, literary
    showing deep and everlasting affection; sentimentally attached; ardent
  5. verb, figuratively, literary
    to plan ahead; to prepare in advance
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (Tatoeba—Mandarin-English)
  1. Mandarin
    未雨绸缪。
    未雨綢繆。
    wèi yǔ chóu móu 。
    • Save for a rainy day.
  2. Mandarin
    你最好未雨绸缪。
    你最好未雨綢繆。
    nǐ zuì hǎo wèi yǔ chóu móu 。
    • You had better keep your money for a rainy day.
    • You'd better keep your money for a rainy day.
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    未雨绸缪
    未雨綢繆
    mei6 jyu5 cau4 mau4
    • to get well prepared; literally: to tighten (the windows) before the rain
  2. Cantonese
    你未大学毕业就应该揾工先，未雨绸缪，费事毕业就失业啊。
    你未大學畢業就應該揾工先，未雨綢繆，費事畢業就失業啊。
    nei5 mei6 daai6 hok6 bat1 jip6 zau6 jing1 goi1 sin1 wan2 gung1 sin1, mei6 jyu5 cau4 mau4, fai3 si6 bat1 jip6 zau6 sat1 jip6 aa3.
    • You should seek a job before you graduate from university, lest you be redundant once you have graduated.
  3. Cantonese
    想有安稳嘅退休生活，就要未雨绸缪。
    想有安穩嘅退休生活，就要未雨綢繆。
    soeng2 jau5 on1 wan2 ge3 teoi3 jau1 sang1 wut6, zau6 jiu3 mei6 jyu5 cau4 mau4.
    • One must save for a rainy day in order to have a steady life in retirement.
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    未雨绸缪
    未雨綢繆
    wèi yǔ chóu móu
    • to plan ahead (lit. to bind tightly the window before it rains)
  2. Mandarin
    未雨绸缪才能临危不乱。
    未雨綢繆才能臨危不亂。
    wèi yǔ chóu móu cái néng lín wēi bù luàn ．
    • Only by taking precautions can you remain calm in the face of danger.