见微知著

Pronunciation: jiàn wēi zhī zhù Literal meaning: See small know large

Origin & Usage

The Han Feizi observes that the sage sees (见) the minute (微) and thereby knows what is sprouting, sees the beginning and thereby knows the end — to catch the small sign is to know (知) the large development (著) it precedes. The skill named is not prediction but attention: the evidence was there the whole time, and most people did not look at it. Analysts, doctors and investigators earn it, and it is high praise, because the phrase concedes the thing was genuinely hard to see while insisting it was there to be seen.

Examples

English: "The experienced investor recognized the market trend from early indicators"

Chinese: 有经验的投资者从早期指标认识到市场趋势