saan1 daai6 zaam2 maai4 jau5 caai4山大斬埋有柴山大斩埋有柴
Jyutpingsaan1 daai6 zaam2 maai4 jau5 caai4
Yalesāan daaih jáam màaih yáuh chàaih
Definition
An expression meaning that small things, when accumulated in large quantities, can add up to a significant amount.
colloquialdaily actionsmoney
How it's used
This proverb highlights the power of incremental progress and patience. It is frequently used to encourage people to save money or to persist in a task that seems insignificant at first glance. The imagery of gathering firewood from a vast mountain serves as a reminder that consistent, small efforts eventually lead to a substantial result.
Examples
seoi1雖jin4然mui5每go3個jyut6月cou5儲dak1得siu3少，daan6但saan1山daai6大zaam2斬maai4埋jau5有caai4柴，hou2好faai3快zau6就cou5儲gau3夠cin4錢。
Although I only save a little each month, small amounts add up, and I will have enough money soon.
nei5你m4唔hou2好tai2睇siu2小ni1呢di1啲seoi3碎cin2錢，saan1山daai6大zaam2斬maai4埋jau5有caai4柴，zik1積siu2少sing4成do1多aa4呀。
Don't look down on these small change, small amounts add up to a lot eventually.
Related words
Common phrases
accumulate small amounts into a large sum
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
