Proverb / Kotowaza
遠水近火を救わず
Help that is far away cannot provide relief for an immediate emergency.
Distant water cannot extinguish a nearby fire.
Quick Answer
Help that is far away cannot provide relief for an immediate emergency.
- Literal Image
- Distant water cannot extinguish a nearby fire.
- How to Use It
- Used when acknowledging that even powerful or reliable help is ineffective if it cannot reach the scene in time to address a sudden difficulty.
Meaning
Just as water from a distant source cannot extinguish a fire happening right now, support or resources located far away are of little use when facing an urgent crisis. It emphasizes that for immediate problems, one must rely on assistance that is readily available nearby.
Literal Image
Distant water cannot extinguish a nearby fire.
How to Use It
Used when acknowledging that even powerful or reliable help is ineffective if it cannot reach the scene in time to address a sudden difficulty.
Tone
This expression can be used in a cautionary or reflective manner regarding the practicality of assistance.
Examples
頼みにしていた友人は遠方にいるため、急な引越しを手伝ってもらえなかった。遠水近火を救わずとはこのことだ。
Since the friend I was relying on was far away, they weren't able to help with my sudden move. It's just as the saying goes: distant water cannot extinguish a nearby fire.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses formal kanji compounds and the classical negative verb ending -zu, which are characteristic of formal literary Japanese.
遠水
えんすい / ensui
distant water
近火
きんか / kinka
nearby fire
救わず
すくわず / sukuwazu
cannot save (cannot extinguish)
Usage Profile
Usage note: Ensure the context is about the physical or logistical distance of the help, rather than just help being small in amount.
Misread Risk
Do not confuse this with proverbs about small amounts of help (like 'water on a hot stone'); this proverb specifically targets the issue of timing and location.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression is derived from the Chinese classic "Han Feizi." It teaches that assistance from a distant place will not arrive in time to address an immediate difficulty. It serves as an admonition that one should seek actual help from those who are nearby during a crisis.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.