Proverb / Kotowaza
一粒万倍
Achieving a great return from a small beginning, or the moral that even small things should not be wasted.
One grain, ten thousand fold
Quick Answer
Achieving a great return from a small beginning, or the moral that even small things should not be wasted.
- Literal Image
- One grain, ten thousand fold
- How to Use It
- Can be used in business and finance to describe growth, or as a moral reminder to appreciate small resources and avoid waste.
Meaning
Derived from the image of a single seed producing ten thousand grains, this expression describes obtaining significant results or profits from a small amount of effort or capital. It also carries the lesson that even the smallest things should be treated with care and not be squandered.
Literal Image
One grain, ten thousand fold
How to Use It
Can be used in business and finance to describe growth, or as a moral reminder to appreciate small resources and avoid waste.
Tone
Neutral to formal; can be used as an encouraging principle or a moral guideline.
Examples
一粒万倍の気持ちで、小さな元手からコツコツと事業を育てていった。
With the spirit of 'one grain becoming ten thousand,' they steadily grew the business from a small amount of capital.
一粒万倍と言うように、わずかな投資でも積み重ねれば大きな実りになる。
As they say, 'one grain can become ten thousand'; even a small investment can result in a great harvest if built up over time.
米一粒とて粗末にするなと、祖母は一粒万倍の教えをよく口にしていた。
My grandmother spoke of the teaching that one grain becomes ten thousand, telling me not to waste even a single grain of rice.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the individual kanji for numbers and grains are basic, the four-character compound (yojijukugo) structure and its idiomatic opacity regarding agricultural yields make it more complex for learners.
一粒
いちりゅう / ichiryu
one grain
万倍
まんばい / manbai
ten thousand fold
粗末
そまつ / somatsu
careless; neglectful; wasteful
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
While it describes making a profit, do not confuse it with greed; it equally emphasizes the importance of not wasting what you already have.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.