三思而后行 Think twice before you act
Explanation
三思而行，指的是在做任何事之前，都要经过反复思考，认真考虑其利弊得失，然后再做决定。
Three thoughts before action refers to carefully considering the pros and cons of any action before making a decision.
Origin Story
春秋时期，鲁国大夫季文子以谨慎著称，每件事都要“三思而行”，即多次考虑以后才决定做与不做。孔子曾经对季文子的做法表示不赞同，认为只要再思就行，如果三思就会患得患失，犹豫不决。 季文子却说：“我宁愿谨慎一点，也不愿冒不必要的风险。” 后来，季文子凭借自己的谨慎和智慧，在政治上取得了很大的成就，也成为了人们学习的榜样。
During the Spring and Autumn period, Ji Wenzi, a statesman of the State of Lu, was known for his prudence. He made no decision without thinking it over three times. Confucius, however, disagreed. He believed that thinking twice was enough, because thinking three times would lead to hesitation and uncertainty. Ji Wenzi replied, "I prefer to be cautious rather than take unnecessary risks." Later, Ji Wenzi achieved great political success due to his prudence and wisdom, and became a model for people to learn from.
Usage
这个成语强调谨慎、慎重地考虑问题，避免鲁莽行事，适用于各种需要认真思考、权衡利弊的场合。
This idiom emphasizes the importance of careful consideration of issues to avoid rash actions. It is applicable in all situations that require careful thinking and weighing of pros and cons.
Examples
-
做任何事情都要三思而后行，不能轻率。
zuo ren he shi qing dou yao san si er hou xing, bu neng qing shu.
Think carefully before you act.
-
遇到困难不要慌张，先三思而后行，才能找到解决办法。
yu dao kun nan bu yao huang zhang, xian san si er hou xing, cai neng zhao dao jie jue ban fa
Don't panic when faced with difficulties. Think carefully before you act, and you will find a solution.