平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚

平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚	píng shí bù shāo xiāng , lín shí bào fó jiǎo	lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble / doing things at the last minute / to make a hasty last-minute effort (often refers to cramming for exams)
平	Píng	surname Ping
平	píng	flat / level / equal / to tie (make the same score) / to draw (score) / calm / peaceful / abbr. for 平声
平时	píng shí	ordinarily / in normal times / in peacetime
时	shí	old variant of 时
时	Shí	surname Shi
时	shí	o'clock / time / when / hour / season / period
不	bù	no; not so / (bound form) not; un-
烧	shāo	to burn / to cook / to stew / to bake / to roast / to heat / to boil (tea, water etc) / fever / to run a temperature / (coll.) to let things go to one's head
烧香	shāo xiāng	to burn incense
香	xiāng	fragrant / sweet smelling / aromatic / savory or appetizing / (to eat) with relish / (of sleep) sound / perfume or spice / joss or incense stick / CL:根
临	lín	to face / to overlook / to arrive / to be (just) about to / just before
临时	lín shí	as the time draws near / at the last moment / temporary / interim / ad hoc
临时抱佛脚	lín shí bào fó jiǎo	lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble / doing things at the last minute / making a hasty last-minute effort
时	shí	old variant of 时
时	Shí	surname Shi
时	shí	o'clock / time / when / hour / season / period
抱	bào	to hold / to carry (in one's arms) / to hug / to embrace / to surround / to cherish / (coll.) (of clothes) to fit nicely
抱佛脚	bào fó jiǎo	lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet (without ever having burned incense) (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble / panic measures in place of timely preparation
佛	Fó	Buddha; Buddhism (abbr. for 佛陀)
佛	fú	seemingly
佛	fú	(female) head ornament / variant of 佛
脚	jiǎo	foot / leg (of an animal or an object) / base (of an object) / CL:双,只 / classifier for kicks
脚	jué	role (variant of 角)

<< go back