察微知著 chá wēi zhī zhù

DEFINITIONS

  1. to examine tiny clues to know general trends (idiom)
  2. to deduce the whole story from small traces

CHARACTERS

察 chá examine, investigate; notice
微 wēi small, prefix micro-, trifling
知 zhī know, perceive, comprehend
著 zhù manifest; (Cant.) to wear