綢繆

Pronunciation

Adjective

綢繆

1. (literary, ideophonic) bound tightly; bound round and round; winding round

   未雨綢繆 / 未雨绸缪  ―  wèiyǔchóumóu  ―  to plan ahead (lit. to bind tightly the window before it rains)

   • 綢繆束薪，三星在天。今夕何夕，見此良人。子兮子兮，如此良人何。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     绸缪束薪，三星在天。今夕何夕，见此良人。子兮子兮，如此良人何。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, circa 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Chóumóu shù xīn, sānxīng zài tiān. Jīn xī hé xī, jiàn cǐ liángrén. Zǐ xī zǐ xī, rú cǐ liángrén hé. [Pinyin]

     Round and round the firewood is bound;
     And the Three Stars appear in the sky.
     This evening is what evening,
     That I see this good man?
     O me! O me!
     That I should get a good man like this!
   • 宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhu Yongchun, Zhu Zi's Family Maxims, 17^th century CE

     Yí wèi yǔ ér chóumóu, wú lín kě ér jué jǐng. [Pinyin]

     One should, when it is not yet raining, bind tightly the window. One should not wait until one is thirsty to dig a well.
     i.e. One should prepare before it is too late.
2. (literary, ideophonic) numerous and dense; closely crowded
3. (literary) extending into the distance; continuous; uninterrupted
4. (literary, figuratively) showing deep and everlasting affection; sentimentally attached; ardent

Verb

綢繆

1. (literary, figuratively) to plan ahead; to prepare in advance

Noun

綢繆 (hiragana ちゅうびゅう, rōmaji chūbyū)

1. coiled about, tied and tied thread
2. familiar, close