a spark causes a prairie fire; small beginnings lead to great developments
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
a single spark can start a prairie fire; fig. a small beginning may lead to a great development or revolution
formalAbbreviated form of the full idiom 星星之火，可以燎原. Originally popularized by Mao Zedong's 1930 essay describing how small revolutionary forces could grow into unstoppable movements. Now widely used to describe any small beginning with massive potential.
Gé革
mìng命
de的
huǒ火
zhǒng种
suī虽
xiǎo小
，
dàn但
bì必
jiāng将
xīng星
huǒ火
liáo燎
yuán原
。
The spark of revolution may be small, but it will inevitably start a prairie fire.
Chū初
chuàng创
gōng公
sī司
suī虽
rán然
xiàn现
zài在
guī规
mó模
bù不
dà大
，
dàn但
zhǐ只
yào要
fāng方
xiàng向
zhèng正
què确
，
zhōng终
huì会
xīng星
huǒ火
liáo燎
yuán原
。
Although the startup is currently small in scale, as long as the direction is correct, it will eventually grow like a prairie fire.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
huán环
bǎo保
lǐ理
niàn念
zhèng正
zài在
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
zhōng中
xīng星
huǒ火
liáo燎
yuán原
bān般
de地
chuán传
bō播
kāi开
lái来
。
This environmental concept is spreading like wildfire among young people.