磨刀不误砍柴工
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lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
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fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
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a beard well lathered is half shaved
Character by character
Saying俗语俗語
Proverb谚语諺語 · In everyday use
- Literally
- sharpening the knife doesn't delay the wood-cutting
- Meaning
- Time spent on preparation pays off in efficiency. Like 'a stitch in time' or 'sharpen the axe first.'
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