wèi未not yetyǔ雨rainchóu绸bindmóu缪tie
Bind and tie before it rains — prepare ahead of time.
Literal meaning
not yet (未) — rain (雨) — bind (绸) — tie (缪)
Origin
Book of Songs (《诗经·豳风·鸱鸮》): 迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户 — "Before the sky grows dark with rain, gather mulberry bark and bind your doors and windows." Used since as the standard image for preparing while you still have time.
Examples
Wèi未yǔ雨chóu绸móu缪，tí提qián前zhǔn准bèi备hǎo好yù预suàn算。
Prepare ahead — get the budget ready in advance.
Cōng聪míng明rén人wèi未yǔ雨chóu绸móu缪。
Smart people prepare ahead.
Usage & nuances
Common in finance, business-continuity, and personal-planning contexts. Slightly more elevated than everyday 'be prepared.'
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