Proverb / Kotowaza
蟻の穴から堤も崩れる
A tiny flaw or a moment of carelessness can lead to a massive disaster or failure.
Even a great embankment can collapse from an ant's hole.
Quick Answer
A tiny flaw or a moment of carelessness can lead to a massive disaster or failure.
- Literal Image
- Even a great embankment can collapse from an ant's hole.
- Closest Equivalent
- A small leak will sink a great ship
- How to Use It
- Used to warn someone that ignoring minor flaws or being inattentive to small details can result in a total collapse of a project, building, or plan.
Meaning
This proverb describes how a massive dam or embankment can be brought down by something as insignificant as a small hole made by ants. It serves as a warning that neglecting small problems or being slightly careless can eventually trigger a major catastrophe.
Literal Image
Even a great embankment can collapse from an ant's hole.
Equivalent Proverbs
A small leak will sink a great ship
Shares the same warning about small flaws leading to catastrophe.
Little strokes fell great oaks
Focuses on small actions leading to big results.
How to Use It
Used to warn someone that ignoring minor flaws or being inattentive to small details can result in a total collapse of a project, building, or plan.
Tone
Cautionary and advisory.
Examples
小さなヒビを放置した結果、建物全体が損壊した。蟻の穴から堤も崩れるとはまさにこのことだ。
Because a small crack was left ignored, the entire building was destroyed. This is exactly what it means when they say a great embankment can collapse from an ant hole.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The expression uses specific kanji like 蟻 (ant) and 堤 (embankment), and the sentence structure involves multiple particles in a long chain.
蟻
あり / ari
ant
穴
あな / ana
hole
堤
つつみ / tsutsumi
embankment, dike, dam
崩れる
くずれる / kuzureru
to collapse, to crumble
Usage Profile
Usage note: Ensure you are using it to highlight the danger of negligence, not just the power of small things.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this only as a literal statement about insects; it is used metaphorically for any small oversight in business, engineering, or life.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from the Chinese text Han Feizi, which contains the phrase "A thousand-丈 (ten-thousand foot) dam collapses from an ant's hole." It teaches that the accumulation of small defects can invite great disaster.
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Source Note
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