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千里之堤，潰於蟻穴. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
千里之堤，潰於蟻穴, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
千里之堤，潰於蟻穴 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
千里之堤，潰於蟻穴 you have here. The definition of the word
千里之堤，潰於蟻穴 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
千里之堤，潰於蟻穴, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
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's; him/her/it; this
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dike
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be dispersed; break down
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in; at; to in; at; to; from; by; than; out of; surname |
ant colony; ant nest
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| trad. (千里之堤，潰於蟻穴)
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千里
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之
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堤
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，
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潰
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於
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蟻穴
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| simp. (千里之堤，溃于蚁穴)
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千里
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之
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堤
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，
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溃
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于
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蚁穴
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| Literally: “a thousand-li dyke can collapse because of an ant colony”.
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Etymology
From Han Feizi, Chapter 21 (《韓非子·喻老》):
千丈之堤，以螻蟻之穴潰；百尺之室，以突隙之煙焚。
千丈之堤，以蝼蚁之穴溃；百尺之室，以突隙之烟焚。 - From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
- Qiān zhàng zhī dī, yǐ lóuyǐ zhī xué kuì; bǎi chǐ zhī shì, yǐ tū xì zhī yān fén.
- A dike ten thousand feet long begins its crumbling with holes made by ants; a room one hundred feet square begins its burning with sparks of fire leaping through cracks of chimneys.
Pronunciation
Proverb
千里之堤，潰於蟻穴
- a small mistake can lead to a massive disaster