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 |