远水不救近火
yuǎn​shuǐ​bù​jiù​jìn​huǒ

a slow remedy is useless for an emergency

Senses

远水不救近火/ 遠水不救近火 yuǎn​shuǐ​bù​jiù​jìn​huǒ a slow remedy is useless for an emergency

literally means that water in a distant place is of little use for putting out a fire right here; a slow remedy does not address the current emergency; same as 缓不济急 huǎn​bù​jì​jí

References

same_as 远水不救近火/遠水不救近火 → 缓不济急/緩不濟急
synonym 远水不解近渴/遠水不解近渴 → 远水不救近火/遠水不救近火
same_as 远水救不了近火/遠水救不了近火 → 远水不救近火/遠水不救近火