厚积薄发

Pronunciation: hòu jī bó fā Literal meaning: Thick accumulation thin launch

Origin & Usage

This is from Su Shi of the Song dynasty, who advised a friend to observe widely but take sparingly, to accumulate thickly and release thinly — 博观而约取，厚积而薄发. Deep (厚) accumulation (积) should issue in slight (薄) output (发). The counsel is against publishing early and often: what is put out should be a small, considered fraction of what has been gathered. The long invisible preparation behind work that finally looks effortless is what it names, and it is offered as advice as often as used as description.

Examples

English: "After years of quiet research, her breakthrough theory revolutionized the field"

Chinese: 经过多年的默默研究，她的突破性理论彻底革新了这个领域