かつ
渇
　
に
のぞ
臨
　
み
　
て
い
井
　
を
ほ
掘
　
る

expression, Godan verb

Idiomatic expression.
  1. to fail to make timely preparations, to not dig a well until one is thirsty.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
かつ
渇
　
に
のぞ
臨
　
み
　
て
い
井
　
を
ほ
掘
　
る
 渇に臨みて井を掘る かつにのぞみていをほる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

thirst, dry up, parch
かわ.く　カツ (9th, N1)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
why, how, when
カツ　なんぞ　いつ (Kentei 1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
beggar, beg, give
カツ　カチ　カイ
wrapping enclosure, wrapping radical (no. 20)
ホウ　つつ.む (Kentei 1)
deceased(亡) variant
hidden, mysterious, secret
イン　オン　かく.す
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
look to, face, meet
リン　のぞ.む　み (6th, N1)
bend down, bow, lie prostrate
ガ　ふ.せる　ふせ.る (Kentei Pre-1)
retainer, subject
シン　とみ　おみ (4th, N2)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
goods, refinement, dignity
ヒン　しな　ホン (3rd, N4)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
accuse, argue, dispute
well, well crib, town
い　ショウ　セイ (7th, N1)
two, two radical (no. 7)
ニ　ふた　ふだ (1st, N5)
twenty, twenty or letter H radical (no. 55)
キョウ　ク　にじゅう (Kentei 1)
dig, delve, excavate
ほ.る　クツ　ぼり (7th, N2)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
yield, bend, flinch
クツ　くっ　かが.む (7th, N1)
corpse, remains, flag radical (no. 44)
シ　かたしろ (Kentei 1)
exit, leave, go out
で.る　だ.す　シュツ (1st, N5)
mountain
やま　サン　セン (1st, N5)