it takes a long time for a problem to get serious; Rome wasn't built in a day
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesproverb
it takes more than a single day's cold to freeze three feet of ice; a problem doesn't become serious overnight
literary通常用来解释复杂问题的根源，强调其长期积累的过程，不能急于求成或期望迅速解决。多用于书面语或正式场合。
Tā他
men们
gōng公
sī司
de的
cái财
wù务
wēi危
jī机
rú如
cǐ此
yán严
zhòng重
，
bīng冰
dòng冻
sān三
chǐ尺
，
fēi非
yī一
rì日
zhī之
hán寒
。
Their company's financial crisis is so severe—it didn't happen overnight.
Zhè这
duì对
fū夫
qī妻
zuì最
zhōng终
lí离
hūn婚
le了
，
dàn但
bīng冰
dòng冻
sān三
chǐ尺
，
fēi非
yī一
rì日
zhī之
hán寒
，
tā他
men们
zhī之
jiān间
de的
máo矛
dùn盾
zǎo早
yǐ已
jī积
lěi累
le了
duō多
nián年
。
The couple finally divorced, but it was the result of years of accumulated conflict—it didn't happen overnight.
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Tā他
jīng精
zhàn湛
de的
shū书
fǎ法
jì技
qiǎo巧
，
bīng冰
dòng冻
sān三
chǐ尺
，
fēi非
yī一
rì日
zhī之
hán寒
，
shì是
jǐ几
shí十
nián年
qín勤
xué学
kǔ苦
liàn练
de的
jié结
guǒ果
。
His superb calligraphy skill is the result of decades of diligent practice—it didn't happen overnight.