A Chinese saying about preparation
What Chinese saying means prepare your tools before you work?
A source-linked answer
工欲善其事，必先利其器。
A plain-English sense
A craftsperson who wants to do good work must first sharpen the tools.
What the line means
Effort begins before the visible task. Tools can be literal, but the image also fits skills, information, systems, and working conditions.
Where it comes from
The sentence appears in the Analects and uses craft as a concrete model for readiness. It does not say tools replace practice; it says preparation belongs to the work.
Read the source text for Analects · Wei Ling Gong →
When this saying fits
- You are about to begin a demanding project.
- A process keeps failing because the setup is weak.
- Someone needs training or information before execution.
Try it with an everyday sentence
These are examples of the kind of modern thought that can lead toward this older image:
- “Before we launch, we need reliable data and a clear checklist.”
- “I should learn the tool before blaming myself for working slowly.”
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Related Chinese sayings
The English wording explains a cultural image rather than replacing the source text. Source and page reviewed 23 September 2026.