たきぎ
薪
　
を
いだ
抱
　
い
　
て
ひ
火
　
を
すく
救
　
う

expression

Idiomatic expression.
  1. having one's good intentions backfire dangerously, causing harm when trying to prevent it, trying to put out a fire while carrying kindling.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
たきぎ
薪
　
を
いだ
抱
　
い
　
て
ひ
火
　
を
すく
救
　
う
 薪を抱いて火を救う たきぎをいだいてひをすくう

Contained Kanji Breakdown

fuel, firewood, kindling
たきぎ　シン　まき (Early Jr. High, N1)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
new
シン　あたら.しい　あら.た (2nd, N4)
parent, (親 variant)
stand up, rise, set up
た.つ　リツ　たつ (1st, N4)
kettle lid radical (no. 8)
トウ (Kentei 1)
grass, straw, herbs
to divide
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
axe, 1.32 lb, catty
キン (Late Jr. High, N1)
embrace, hug, hold in arms
だ.く　いだ.く　かか.える (Early Jr. High, N3)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
wrap, pack up, cover
つつ.む　ホウ　くる.む (4th, N2)
wrapping enclosure, wrapping radical (no. 20)
ホウ　つつ.む (Kentei 1)
self
コ　おのれ　キ (6th, N1)
fire
ひ　カ　ほ- (1st, N5)
to divide
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
salvation, save, help
すく.う　キュウ (5th, N1)
request, want, wish for
もと.める　キュウ　グ (4th, N3)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
water radical variant (no. 85)
スイ
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
strike, hit, folding chair radical variant (no. 66)
ホク (Kentei 1)
person, (人 variant)
mow, cut grass, subdue
ガイ　ゲ　おさ.める (Kentei 1)