Dictionary › 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚

平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚

píng shí bù shāo xiāng , lín shí bào fó jiǎo

11-character word Traditional 平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳

What 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚 means

1. (lit.) to never burn incense when all's well, but clutch Buddha's feet in a crisis (proverb)
2. (fig.) to neglect preparation until the last moment, then act in panic

The characters in 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚

• 平píngflat; level; smooth; to make even; to level; equal; on the same level
• 时shío'clock; time; when
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
• 烧shāoto burn; to set on fire; to heat (over a fire); to boil (water, tea etc); to braise
• 香xiāngfragrant; sweet smelling; aromatic
• 临línto face; to overlook; to arrive
• 时shío'clock; time; when
• 抱bàoto hold; to carry (in one's arms); to hug
• 佛fúused in 仿佛
• 脚jiǎofoot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object)