三年之艾sān nián zhī àithree-year-old mugwort—sth. kept in store for the cure of a sickness
? 今之欲王者，擾七年之病，求～也，茍為不畜，終身不得。(《孟子·離婁上》) The case of one of the present princes wishing to become emperor,is like having to seek three-year-old mugwort,to cure a seven years’ sickness. If it had not been kept in store,the patient may not get it at all. 三年之艾sān nián zhī ài艾：艾蒿，一種多年生草本植物。已儲(chǔ)存了三年的陳艾。比喻事先早已作好準(zhǔn)備。make preparations for everything, keep in store for the cure of a sickness |