小洞不堵，大洞受苦 xiǎo dòng bù dǔ ， dà dòng shòu kǔ

fix small problems early; or they grow

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. A small hole not plugged will make you suffer a big hole (idiom); A stitch in time saves nine.

Characters

Character Meaning
小 xiǎo HSK 1
small; young; tiny
洞 dòng HSK 5
cave; hole
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
堵 dǔ HSK 4
to block up (a road, pipe etc); to stop up (a hole)
大 dà HSK 1
big; large; great
洞 dòng HSK 5
cave; hole
受 shòu HSK 4
(passive marker); to receive; to accept
苦 kǔ HSK 4
bitter; to suffer; hardship