Xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dà dòng chīkǔ.*

小洞不補, 大洞吃苦。

Lit [If] small holes are not mended, big ones will cause suffering [later].

Fig A little neglect may breed great mischief; “a stitch in time saves nine.”

Note [Rhyme; see also xiēxiǎo bù bǔ and zhēnjiān dà de below and the preceding entry.]

Topics CAUTION DETAILS DISASTERS rhyme TROUBLE