始于足下 (shǐ yú zú xià) — (set phrase) a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; great undertakings start from small beginnings

Definition

Set phrase from Laozi: 'every great undertaking starts from a single, small step' — used to urge patience and to begin with humble, concrete actions rather than chasing grand results.

verb
(set phrase) a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stepgreat undertakings start from small beginnings

Examples

  • ：“，始于足下。”。
    Gǔ rén shuō: "qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià." zhè jù huà gào sù wǒ men zuò shì yào cóng xiǎo shì zuò qǐ.
    The ancients said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." This saying tells us that we should start from small things.
  • 始于足下，。
    Rèn hé wěi dà de shì yè dōu shǐ yú zú xià, bù néng jí yú qiú chéng.
    Any great undertaking starts from a single step; you cannot rush for success.
  • 始于足下，。
    Tā míng bai shǐ yú zú xià de dào lǐ, suǒ yǐ cóng zuì jī chǔ de gōng zuò kāi shǐ zuò qǐ.
    He understands the principle that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so he started from the most basic work.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái始shǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

始 is made of 女 (woman) and 台, which gives the sound.

Open 始 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Open 足 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

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