冰凍三尺，非一日之寒 bīng dòng sān chǐ ， fēi yī rì zhī hán

big problems come from long-term causes

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. three feet of ice does not form in a single day (idiom); Rome wasn't built in a day

Characters

Character Meaning
冰 bīng HSK 3
ice; (of an object or substance) to feel cold; to chill sth
凍 dòng
to freeze; to feel very cold; aspic or jelly
三 sān HSK 1
three; 3; surname San
尺 chǐ HSK 5
a ruler; a Chinese foot; one-third of a meter
非 fēi HSK 2
not; to not be; non-
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
日 rì HSK 2
day; date, day of the month; sun
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it
寒 hán HSK 4
cold; poor; to tremble