平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚

Traditional form:

平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳

Pinyin (reading):

píngshíbùshāoxiāng,línshíbàofójiǎo

Definitions:

• lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble
• doing things at the last minute
• to make a hasty last-minute effort (often refers to cramming for exams)

Characters:

• 平 - flat, level, even; peaceful
• 时 - time, season; period, era, age
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 烧 - to burn, to bake; to heat, to roast
• 香 - incense; fragrant, aromatic
• 临 - to draw near, to approach; to descend
• 时 - time, season; period, era, age
• 抱 - to embrace, to hold in one's arms; to enfold
• 佛 - Buddha; Buddhist
• 脚 - leg, foot; foundation, base

Traditional characters:

• 平 - flat, level, even; peaceful
• 時 - time, season; period, era, age
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 燒 - to burn, to bake; to heat, to roast
• 香 - incense; fragrant, aromatic
• 臨 - to draw near, to approach; to descend
• 時 - time, season; period, era, age
• 抱 - to embrace, to hold in one's arms; to enfold
• 佛 - Buddha; Buddhist
• 腳 - leg, foot; foundation, base