| 远水不解近渴 |
yuǎn shuǐ bù jiě jìn kě |
lit. distant water does not cure present thirst; fig. urgent need / a slow remedy does not address immediate needs |
| 远 |
yuǎn |
far / distant / remote / (intensifier in a comparison) by far / much (lower etc) |
| 远 |
yuàn |
to distance oneself from (classical) |
| 水 |
Shuǐ |
surname Shui / Shui ethnic group |
| 水 |
shuǐ |
water / (after a name) ... River / to swim (used mostly in 会水 and 水性) / (coll.) lacking in substance; shoddy / (bound form) additional cost; extra income / classifier for washings of a garment |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 不解 |
bù jiě |
to not understand / to be puzzled by / indissoluble |
| 解 |
Xiè |
surname Xie |
| 解 |
jiě |
to divide / to break up / to split / to separate / to dissolve / to solve / to melt / to remove / to untie / to loosen / to open / to emancipate / to explain / to understand / to know / a solution / a dissection |
| 解 |
jiè |
to transport under guard |
| 解 |
xiè |
acrobatic display (esp. on horseback) (old) / variant of 懈 and 邂 (old) |
| 近 |
jìn |
near / close to / approximately |
| 渴 |
kě |
thirsty |