Xiǎoguǐ dǐng bùliǎo Yánwang zhài.

小鬼頂不了閻王債。

Lit A minor devil cannot be reckoned as a payment for the debts the King of Hell owes.

Fig The crimes of small criminals are not equal to those of their leader(s); one should punish the major criminal(s), not just the minor one(s).

Note [Note: elsewhere, yánwangzhài as one word is a colloquial expresssion for a usurious loan.]

Topics colloquial expression CRIME King of Hell LEADERS PUNISHMENT SUBORDINATES Yánwang yánwangzhài