防患于未然 prevent problems before they arise
Explanation
防患于未然的意思是在事情发生之前就做好预防工作，避免灾祸的发生。它强调的是未雨绸缪，有备无患的重要性。
The idiom means to take precautions before something happens to prevent disaster. It emphasizes the importance of preparedness and being prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
Origin Story
很久以前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一位名叫老张的农夫。老张勤劳善良，但他家的房屋却非常破旧，随时都有倒塌的危险。村里的其他村民都劝老张赶紧修缮房屋，但他总是推脱说：“现在天气晴朗，房屋好好的，没必要花钱修。”一天晚上，一场暴风雨突袭了小山村。狂风怒号，暴雨倾盆，老张家的房屋不堪重负，最终轰然倒塌，老张一家险些丧命。经历了这次惊险的事件后，老张才深刻地认识到防患于未然的重要性。从此以后，他积极地修缮房屋，并时刻警惕着各种潜在的危险，确保家人和财产的安全。
A long time ago, in a remote mountain village, lived a farmer named Lao Zhang. Lao Zhang was hardworking and kind, but his house was very dilapidated and in danger of collapsing at any time. The other villagers in the village advised Lao Zhang to repair his house quickly, but he always said, “The weather is fine now, the house is fine, there is no need to spend money on repairs.” One night, a violent storm struck the mountain village. The wind howled, the rain poured, and Lao Zhang’s house could not withstand the pressure and finally collapsed. Lao Zhang’s family almost lost their lives. After this dangerous incident, Lao Zhang deeply realized the importance of taking precautions. From then on, he actively repaired his house and always remained vigilant against various potential dangers to ensure the safety of his family and property.
Usage
常用作谓语、宾语；指在事故发生前防范。
Often used as a predicate or object; refers to prevention before an incident occurs.
Examples
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为了防止类似事件再次发生，我们必须防患于未然。
wèile fángzhǐ lèisì shìjiàn zàicì fāshēng, women bìxū fánghuàn yú wèirán
To prevent similar incidents from happening again, we must take precautions.
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居安思危，防患于未然，是中华民族的优良传统。
jū'ān sīwēi, fánghuàn yú wèirán, shì zhōnghuá mínzú de yōuliáng chuántǒng
Living in peace and thinking about danger, preventing problems before they happen, is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation.