many a little makes a mickle; small troubles accumulate into disaster
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
many a little makes a mickle; the accumulation of small things can produce a major effect; minor negligence can lead to great disaster
literaryOriginating from 'Strategies of the Warring States'. Often used to warn that neglecting small problems can eventually lead to serious consequences.
Xiǎo小
wèn问
tí题
rú如
guǒ果
bù不
jí及
shí时
jiě解
jué决
，
jī积
yǔ羽
chén沉
zhōu舟
，
zuì最
hòu后
huì会
biàn变
chéng成
dà大
má麻
fan烦
。
If small problems are not solved in time, many a little makes a mickle, and they will eventually become big troubles.
Bù不
yào要
xiǎo小
kàn看
zhè这
xiē些
cuò错
wù误
，
jī积
yǔ羽
chén沉
zhōu舟
，
hòu后
guǒ果
kě可
néng能
hěn很
yán严
zhòng重
。
Don't underestimate these mistakes—many small things can sink a boat, and the consequences could be very serious.
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Gǔ古
rén人
yún云
jī积
yǔ羽
chén沉
zhōu舟
，
qún群
qīng轻
zhé折
zhóu轴
，
shuō说
de的
jiù就
shì是
xiǎo小
huàn患
bù不
chú除
zhōng终
niàng酿
dà大
huò祸
de的
dào道
lǐ理
。
The ancients said that accumulated feathers sink a boat and combined light weights break an axle—this speaks to the principle that small ills left unchecked will eventually cause great disasters.