雪中送炭 Xuě zhōng sòng tàn Sending charcoal in snow

Explanation

比喻在别人需要帮助的时候给予及时的帮助。

It means to give timely help when someone needs it.

Origin Story

话说宋朝时期，范成大在石湖隐居，有一天大雪纷飞，寒风刺骨。他听说一位老友家境贫寒，生活困苦，便冒着风雪，送去一大车炭火。老友感激涕零，赞叹道：这真是雪中送炭啊！范成大深受感动，写下名句：“不是雪中须送炭，聊装风景要诗来。”这首诗不仅展现了范成大的仁爱之心，也成为后世人们称颂的佳话。后来，“雪中送炭”便用来比喻在别人危急关头给予及时的帮助，成为一个家喻户晓的成语。

huà shuō sòng cháo shí qī, fàn chéng dà zài shí hú yǐn jū, yǒu yī tiān dà xuě fēn fēi, hán fēng cì gǔ. tā tīng shuō yī wèi lǎo yǒu jiā jìng pín hán, shēng huó kùnkǔ, biàn mào zhe fēng xuě, sòng qù yī dà chē tàn huǒ. lǎo yǒu gǎnjī tì líng, zàn tàn dào: zhè zhēn shì xuě zhōng sòng tàn a! fàn chéng dà shēn shòu gǎndòng, xiě xià míng jù: “bú shì xuě zhōng xū sòng tàn, liáo zhuāng fēng jǐng yào shī lái.” zhè shǒu shī bù jǐn zhǎn xiàn le fàn chéng dà de rén ài zhī xīn, yě chéng wéi hòu shì rén men chēng sòng de jiā huà. hòu lái,“xuě zhōng sòng tàn” biàn yòng lái bǐ yù zài bié rén wēi jī guān tóu gěi yǔ jí shí de bāng zhù, chéng wéi yī gè jiā yù hù xiǎo de chéng yǔ.

It is said that during the Song Dynasty, Fan Chengda lived in seclusion at Shihu Lake. One day, a heavy snowstorm raged, and the wind was biting cold. He heard that an old friend was poor and in distress, so he braved the snowstorm and sent a cartload of charcoal. His friend was moved to tears, exclaiming: "This is truly like sending charcoal in the snow!" Fan Chengda was deeply moved and wrote the famous line, "It is not necessary to send charcoal in the snow; I simply want to paint a beautiful landscape with poetry.". This poem not only showcases Fan Chengda's benevolence but also became a well-known story passed down through generations. Later, "sending charcoal in the snow" came to represent the timely help given to others in times of crisis, becoming a household idiom.

Usage

用于比喻在别人危难时给予及时的帮助。

yòng yú bǐ yù zài bié rén wēi nàn shí gěi yǔ jí shí de bāng zhù

It is used to describe timely help given to someone in need.

Examples

  • 危难之际，朋友雪中送炭的帮助，让我倍感温暖。

    wēi nàn zhī jì, péng you xuě zhōng sòng tàn de bāng zhù, ràng wǒ bèi gǎn wēn nuǎn.

    In times of crisis, the help of friends warming the heart.

  • 在公司最困难的时候，他雪中送炭，提供了资金支持，让我们得以渡过难关。

    zài gōngsī zuì kùnnán de shíhòu, tā xuě zhōng sòng tàn, tígōng le zījīn zhīchí, ràng wǒmen déyǐ dù guò nánguān.

    When the company was in trouble, he provided financial support, allowing us to overcome the difficulties.

Related Idioms

  • 雪里送炭

  • 及时雨

Opposite Idioms

  • 落井下石

  • 趁火打劫