打铁趁热 Dǎ tiě chèn rè strike while the iron is hot

Explanation

比喻做事要抓紧时机，趁势而为。

means to do something while the opportunity is favorable.

Origin Story

话说古代一位技艺高超的铁匠，他不仅能打造出锋利的宝剑，更擅长打造精美的工艺品。有一天，一位富商慕名而来，请铁匠为他打造一件价值连城的银制花瓶。铁匠接受了订单，在熊熊炉火前开始挥汗如雨地工作。他先将银块放入火炉中，反复加热，待银块烧得通红，他才用尽全身力气，将其捶打成型。每捶打一次，银块便会变软一些，形状也更加完美。但铁匠并没有一蹴而就，而是多次重复这个过程，不断调整银块的形状，直到最终打造出一个精美绝伦的花瓶。整个过程，铁匠都遵循着“打铁趁热”的原则，他知道，只有趁着银块温度合适的时候进行捶打，才能打造出最完美的工艺品。富商见此情景，不禁赞叹铁匠的技艺高超，更被他那“打铁趁热”的认真态度所感动。这个故事也因此传颂开来，被人们用来比喻做事要抓紧时机，趁热打铁，方能事半功倍。

huà shuō gǔdài yī wèi jìyì gāochāo de tiě jiàng, tā bù jǐn néng dǎzào chū fēnglì de bǎo jiàn, gèng shàncháng dǎzào jīngměi de gōngyì pǐn。 yǒu yī tiān, yī wèi fùshāng mùmíng ér lái, qǐng tiě jiàng wèi tā dǎzào yī jiàn jiàzhí liánchéng de yín zhì huā píng。 tiě jiàng jiēshòu le dìngdān, zài xióngxióng lúhuǒ qián kāishǐ huī hàn rú yǔ de gōngzuò。 tā xiān jiāng yín kuài fàng rù huǒ lú zhōng, fǎnfù jiārè, dài yín kuài shāo de tōng hóng, tā cái yòng jìn quán shēn lìqì, jí qí chuí dǎ chéng xíng。 měi chuí dǎ yī cì, yín kuài biàn huì biàn ruǎn yīxiē, xíngzhuàng yě gèngjiā wánměi。 dàn tiě jiàng bìng méiyǒu yī cù ér jiù, ér shì duō cì chóngfù zhège guòchéng, bùduàn tiáozhěng yín kuài de xíngzhuàng, zhídào zuìzhōng dǎzào chū yīgè jīngměi jué lún de huā píng。 zhěnggè guòchéng, tiě jiàng dōu zūnxún zhe “dǎ tiě chèn rè” de yuánzé, tā zhīdào, zhǐyǒu chèn zhe yín kuài wēndù héshì de shíhòu jìnxíng chuí dǎ, cái néng dǎzào chū zuì wánměi de gōngyì pǐn。 fùshāng jiàn cǐ qíngjǐng, bù jīn zàntàn tiě jiàng de jìyì gāochāo, gèng bèi tā nà “dǎ tiě chèn rè” de rènzhēn tàiduò suǒ gǎndòng。 zhège gùshì yě yīncǐ chuánsòng kāilái, bèi rénmen yòng lái bǐyù zuòshì yào zhuā jǐn shíjī, chèn rè dǎ tiě, fāng néng shì bàn gōng bèi。

In ancient times, there was a highly skilled blacksmith who could not only forge sharp swords but also create exquisite works of art. One day, a wealthy merchant came to him, requesting a priceless silver vase. The blacksmith accepted the order and began to work in front of the roaring furnace. He first placed the silver ingot into the furnace, repeatedly heating it until it turned red-hot. Then, with all his strength, he hammered it into shape. With each strike of the hammer, the silver ingot became softer and its shape more perfect. The blacksmith didn't stop with one strike, instead, he repeated the process multiple times, continuously adjusting the shape of the silver ingot until he finally created a stunning vase. Throughout the process, the blacksmith followed the principle of "striking while the iron is hot". He knew that only by hammering the silver ingot at the right temperature could he create the perfect piece of art. The merchant, upon witnessing this, was amazed by the blacksmith's incredible skill and moved by his dedicated "striking while the iron is hot" approach. The story was thus passed down and used to illustrate that in order to achieve the best results, one must seize the opportunity and act promptly.

Usage

用于比喻做事要抓紧时机，趁势而为。

yòng yú bǐyù zuòshì yào zhuā jǐn shíjī, chèn shì ér wèi。

is used to illustrate that one should seize the opportunity and do things while it is favorable.

Examples

• 这次机会难得，我们必须打铁趁热，尽快完成项目。

  zhè cì jīhuì nán de, wǒmen bìxū dǎ tiě chèn rè, jǐnkuài wánchéng xiàngmù。

  This is a rare opportunity; we must strike while the iron is hot and complete the project as soon as possible.

• 市场行情好，咱们要打铁趁热，赶紧把产品推出去。

  shìchǎng xíngqíng hǎo, zánmen yào dǎ tiě chèn rè, gǎnjǐn bǎ chǎnpǐn tuī chūqù。

  The market is good; we should strike while the iron is hot and quickly launch the product.

Related Idioms

• 趁热打铁

• 把握时机

Opposite Idioms

• 坐失良机

• 错失良机