"Jū ān sī wēi" means that even when one is in a stable and peaceful environment, one should still consider the dangers and difficulties that may arise. It originates from the Zuo Zhuan, Lord Xiang, Eleventh Year: "In times of peace, think of danger; by thinking, one is prepared; with preparation, there is no calamity." Its deeper meaning is to remind people not to relax their vigilance because of present comfort, but to maintain a sense of hardship and forward-looking thinking, make preparations in advance, and prevent trouble before it occurs. This idiom is often used in contexts such as personal cultivation, enterprise management, and national governance, emphasizing the need to remain clear-headed, cautious, and alert to crises in favorable circumstances. In terms of cultural background, it embodies the wisdom of the traditional Chinese "sense of hardship" and "preparing for a rainy day," and is in harmony with the Confucian idea that "one thrives in adversity and perishes in ease." Its emotional tone is neutral and is mostly used in a commendatory sense, praising people for being far-sighted, neither arrogant nor impetuous. In use, it can serve as a predicate, attributive, or object, for example, "a leader who thinks of danger in times of peace."
📝 Example
1. Although the company is currently performing well, the management always remains vigilant in times of peace and continuously develops new products to respond to market changes.
2. We should remain vigilant in times of peace and strengthen national defense to ensure long-term stability and security of the country.