以防不测 (yǐ fáng bú cè) — to guard against unforeseen events; (just) in case

Definition

Literally 'to guard against the unexpected' — a written chengyu for taking precautions just in case something bad happens.

idiom
to guard against unforeseen events(just) in case

Examples

  • ，以防不测。
    Chū mén lǚ yóu shí yào dài hǎo yào pǐn, yǐ fáng bú cè.
    When traveling, you should bring enough medicine just in case.
  • 以防不测，。
    Gòu mǎi bǎo xiǎn kě yǐ yǐ fáng bú cè, jiǎn shǎo yì wài dài lái de sǔn shī.
    Buying insurance can guard against unforeseen events and reduce losses from accidents.
  • ，以防不测。
    Wǒ men duō zhǔn bèi yì xiē shí wù, yǐ fáng bú cè.
    Let's prepare some extra food just in case.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng防fáng
Same sound today

防 pairs 阝 (written fully as 阜) with 方, which gives the sound.

Open 防 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.