远水不解近渴

yuǎn shuǐ bù jiě jìn kě

lit. distant water does not cure present thirst; fig. urgent need

a slow remedy does not address immediate needs

远

yuǎn

far

水

shuǐ

water

不

bù

no; not so

解

jiě

to divide

近

jìn

near

渴

kě

thirsty