燕子衔泥垒大窝 yàn zi xián ní lěi dà wō

DEFINITIONS

  1. the swallow's nest is built one beakful of mud at a time (idiom)
  2. many a little makes a mickle

CHARACTERS

燕 yàn swallow (bird); comfort, enjoy
子 zi offspring, child; fruit, seed of; 1st terrestrial branch
衔 xián bit; hold in mouth, bite; gag
泥 ní mud, mire; earth, clay; plaster
垒 lěi rampart, military wall
大 dà big, great, vast, large, high
窝 wō nest; cave, den; hiding place