雪中送炭 (xuě zhōng sòng tàn) — to provide timely help (when it is most needed); a timely favor

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning a timely favor given in someone's moment of need — literally 'sending charcoal in the snow'. Always used as praise for help that arrives exactly when it matters most.

idiom
to provide timely help (when it is most needed)a timely favor

Examples

  • 雪中送炭，。
    Nǐ néng zài zhè ge shí hou xuě zhōng sòng tàn, zhēn shì bāng le wǒ dà máng.
    You offering help at this moment is truly a great favor to me.
  • 雪中送炭。
    Lín jū sòng lái de shí wù duì wǒ men lái shuō jiǎn zhí shì xuě zhōng sòng tàn.
    The food the neighbor brought was simply a timely help for us.
  • 雪中送炭。
    Zhè fèn jiǎng xué jīn duì tā lái shuō jiù shì xuě zhōng sòng tàn.
    This scholarship is a timely relief for him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

雪中in the snow
雪xuěsnow中zhōngmiddle
偏正Modifier + head
送炭deliver charcoal
送sòngdeliver炭tàncharcoal
动宾Verb + object

雪中 (in the snow) and 送炭 (deliver charcoal) picture giving help when most needed.

Characters in this word

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
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
彗
彗huì雪xuě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

雪 pairs 雨, showing rain, with 彗, giving the sound.

Open 雪 →

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

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòto walk
Sound part声符shēngfú
灷
灷zhuàn送sòng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

送 combines 辶, the walking radical, with 灷, which supplies the sound; the walking part fits meanings like see off or deliver.

Open 送 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
岸
岸àn炭tàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

炭 combines 火 (fire) with 岸, which provides the sound. The 火 part connects the character to fire or burning material.

Open 炭 →

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