fǔ釜potdǐ底bottomchōu抽drawxīn薪firewood
To take drastic measures to resolve a problem; to remove the fuel from under the pot.
Literal meaning
pot (釜) — bottom (底) — draw (抽) — firewood (薪)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a fundamental solution to a problem.
Examples
yào要jiě解jué决zhè这ge个wèn问tí题，bì必xū须fǔ釜dǐ底chōu抽xīn薪，cóng从gēn根běn本shàng上jiě解jué决。
To solve this problem, we must take drastic measures and solve it from the root.
fǔ釜dǐ底chōu抽xīn薪de的bàn办fǎ法suī虽rán然yǒu有xiào效，dàn但kě可néng能huì会dài带lái来yī一xiē些fù副zuò作yòng用。
Although the method of removing the fuel from under the pot is effective, it may bring some side effects.
Usage & nuances
Implies a decisive and effective, but potentially risky, solution.
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