蚁穴坏堤
蚁穴坏堤 (yǐ xuē huài dī) literally means “ant holes break dike” and expresses “small problems cause disaster”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: yi xue huai di, yi xue huai di,蚁穴坏堤 meaning, 蚁穴坏堤 in english
Small problems cause disaster
Pronunciation: yǐ xuē huài dī Literal meaning: Ant holes break dike
Origin & Usage
Dating to ancient Chinese agricultural texts, this observation of how tiny ant (蚁) holes (穴) can ultimately destroy (坏) a massive dike (堤) became a powerful metaphor for how small problems can lead to catastrophic failures. The imagery draws from the annual flooding seasons when river management was crucial for civilization's survival. Agricultural records from the Han Dynasty detail how inspectors would specifically check for ant colonies in dikes, recognizing their threat to structural integrity. In modern context, it warns against neglecting minor issues in everything from software security to organizational management, where small vulnerabilities can cascade into system-wide failures.
Examples
English: "A minor oversight in the code led to a critical system failure"
Chinese: 代码中的一个小疏忽导致了系统的重大故障
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 蚁穴坏堤 mean in English?
蚁穴坏堤 (yǐ xuē huài dī) literally translates to “Ant holes break dike” and is used to express “Small problems cause disaster”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 蚁穴坏堤 used?
Situation: A minor oversight in the code led to a critical system failure
What is the pinyin for 蚁穴坏堤?
The pinyin pronunciation for 蚁穴坏堤 is “yǐ xuē huài dī”.