養癰遺患 yǎng yōng yí huàn

to let small harm grow into big trouble

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. to foster an ulcer and bequeath a calamity (idiom); tolerating budding evil can only lead to disaster
  2. 2. to cherish a viper in one's bosom

Characters

Character Meaning
養 yǎng
to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to keep (pets)
癰 yōng
carbuncle
遺 yí
to leave behind; to lose; to omit
患 huàn HSK 6
to suffer (from illness); to contract (a disease); worry