pulling a single hair moves the whole body; a tiny change affects the whole
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
pulling a single hair moves the whole body; a tiny change affects the whole
formalUsed to describe a situation where a small, seemingly insignificant action or change can have large-scale, far-reaching consequences. Often applied to complex systems (e.g., economy, politics, technology, society).
Jīn金
róng融
shì市
chǎng场
de的
bō波
dòng动
qiān牵
yī一
fà发
ér而
dòng动
quán全
shēn身
，
kě可
néng能
yǐng影
xiǎng响
quán全
qiú球
jīng经
jì济
。
A fluctuation in the financial market can affect the whole global economy; pulling a single hair moves the whole body.
Gōng供
yìng应
liàn链
zhōng中
de的
zhè这
ge个
guān关
jiàn键
huán环
jié节
chū出
le了
wèn问
tí题
，
zhēn真
shì是
qiān牵
yī一
fà发
ér而
dòng动
quán全
shēn身
。
A problem with this critical link in the supply chain truly affects the whole system; pulling a single hair moves the whole body.
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Xiū修
gǎi改
hé核
xīn心
dài代
mǎ码
bì必
xū须
shèn慎
zhòng重
，
yǐ以
miǎn免
qiān牵
yī一
fà发
ér而
dòng动
quán全
shēn身
。
Modifying the core code must be done with great care to avoid unintended consequences throughout the system.