聚沙成塔
Many grains of sand make a tower
직역: Gather sand to form a pagoda
Use this to praise persistence and remind others that small, daily efforts create grand results.
15초 만에
- Small actions lead to massive results over time.
- Rooted in Buddhist wisdom about building merit.
- Perfect for encouraging savings, studying, or fitness.
뜻
It describes how many tiny, individual efforts or items can eventually build something massive and impressive. It is the Chinese way of saying that every little bit helps and patience leads to greatness.
주요 예문
3 / 6Encouraging a friend to save money
每天省下买咖啡的钱，聚沙成塔，年底你就能去旅游了。
Save your coffee money every day; many grains of sand make a tower, and you can travel by year-end.
Talking about learning Chinese
学外语不能急，每天记几个词，聚沙成塔，总会成功的。
Don't rush language learning; remember a few words daily, and small efforts will build a tower.
A CEO addressing the company
公司的成功是每一位员工努力的结果，这就是聚沙成塔的力量。
The company's success is the result of every employee's effort; this is the power of accumulation.
문화적 배경
The phrase originates from the Lotus Sutra, a key Buddhist text. It originally illustrated that even children playing in the sand could create something of spiritual value through devotion. Today, it has shifted from a religious context to a general metaphor for persistence and financial or personal growth.
The 'Tower' Visual
When you use this, try to visualize a pagoda. It helps you emphasize that the end result is something grand and structured, not just a random pile.
Avoid Negative Vibes
While you *can* use it for bad things like 'accumulating mistakes,' it usually sounds weird. Stick to positive growth to sound more natural.
15초 만에
- Small actions lead to massive results over time.
- Rooted in Buddhist wisdom about building merit.
- Perfect for encouraging savings, studying, or fitness.
What It Means
Imagine you are standing on a vast beach. You pick up one single grain of sand. It feels like absolutely nothing in your hand, right? But if you keep piling those grains up, you eventually get a tower. This phrase 聚沙成塔 captures that exact feeling of steady progress. It means big things come from very small beginnings. It is all about the magic of accumulation. You use it when small, consistent efforts lead to a huge result. It celebrates the power of patience over time.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase as a verb or an adjective. It often appears after you describe a series of small actions. For example, you might talk about saving a few dollars every day. Then you add 聚沙成塔 to show the long-term value. It works great as a standalone piece of advice too. In a sentence, you can say 'We should value every small step, because 聚沙成塔.' It sounds encouraging and wise. You do not need complex grammar to make it work. Just drop it in when you want to inspire someone.
When To Use It
Use it when you see someone working hard on a long-term goal. It is perfect for a friend who is learning a new language. It fits well in a business meeting about incremental growth. If you are texting a gym buddy, send this phrase. It reminds them that every single workout counts toward their dream body. It is also very common in financial contexts. Banks use it to encourage people to save small amounts. It is a very positive and motivating expression for any journey.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for things that happen overnight. If you win the lottery, this phrase does not apply. It is also not for negative things. You would not usually say your debt is 聚沙成塔 unless you are being sarcastic. Avoid using it for single, massive events that require no process. It requires a history of many small, repeated parts. If the result was easy to achieve, this phrase will feel too heavy. It is reserved for things that require genuine persistence.
Cultural Background
This phrase has deep roots in Buddhist culture and ancient scriptures. In the 'Lotus Sutra,' it describes children making pagodas out of sand. Even these tiny, playful acts were seen as building great spiritual merit. It reflects a traditional Chinese respect for patience and the 'long game.' The 塔 (pagoda) is a symbol of something sacred and grand. In Chinese history, building a pagoda was a massive community effort. This phrase reminds people that even the grandest monuments started with a single grain.
Common Variations
A very similar and common phrase is 积少成多. This literally means 'accumulate little to make much.' It is a bit more literal and less poetic. Another one is 集腋成裘. This means 'collecting underarm fur from many foxes to make a coat.' That one is much more formal and slightly fancy. 聚沙成塔 remains the most visual and popular version. You will see it in books, speeches, and even advertisements. It is a classic that everyone knows and loves.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is highly versatile and fits almost any context involving gradual growth. While it has Buddhist origins, it is now considered a secular, inspirational idiom suitable for all ages.
The 'Tower' Visual
When you use this, try to visualize a pagoda. It helps you emphasize that the end result is something grand and structured, not just a random pile.
Avoid Negative Vibes
While you *can* use it for bad things like 'accumulating mistakes,' it usually sounds weird. Stick to positive growth to sound more natural.
The Buddhist Connection
If you mention that you know this comes from the Lotus Sutra, your Chinese friends will be incredibly impressed by your deep cultural knowledge!
예시
6每天省下买咖啡的钱，聚沙成塔，年底你就能去旅游了。
Save your coffee money every day; many grains of sand make a tower, and you can travel by year-end.
Uses the phrase to show how small daily savings add up to a big trip.
学外语不能急，每天记几个词，聚沙成塔，总会成功的。
Don't rush language learning; remember a few words daily, and small efforts will build a tower.
Applies the idiom to the long process of vocabulary accumulation.
公司的成功是每一位员工努力的结果，这就是聚沙成塔的力量。
The company's success is the result of every employee's effort; this is the power of accumulation.
Formal use to credit collective small efforts for a large success.
虽然今天只运动了十分钟，但聚沙成塔嘛！
I only worked out for ten minutes today, but hey, every little bit helps!
Casual, encouraging use to stay positive about small progress.
我桌上的零食包装袋已经聚沙成塔了，该打扫了。
The snack wrappers on my desk have gathered into a tower; time to clean up.
A funny way to use a grand idiom for something trivial and messy.
我们的感情是靠这十年的点点滴滴，聚沙成塔而来的。
Our relationship was built bit by bit over ten years, like gathering sand into a tower.
Emotional use focusing on the accumulation of small moments.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about long-term goals.
只要我们坚持每天进步一点点，就能___，实现梦想。
`聚沙成塔` fits because the sentence talks about daily small progress leading to a dream.
Which phrase best describes saving a small amount of money every month?
每月存五百块，___，退休时也是一笔财富。
Saving money bit by bit is the classic context for `聚沙成塔`.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality and Context Spectrum
Texting friends about small habits.
Gym progress or cleaning.
Common advice for students or colleagues.
Studying or saving money.
Speeches, literature, or corporate branding.
Company history or charity drives.
Where to use 聚沙成塔
Financial Planning
Small monthly investments.
Language Learning
Learning one character a day.
Charity Work
Collecting small donations.
Fitness Journey
Daily 10-minute walks.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Not at all! While it is a Chengyu, it is very common in daily life, especially when giving advice or talking about habits like 存钱 (saving money).
Technically yes, but it sounds a bit odd. For weight gain, people usually say 一口吃不成胖子 (you can't get fat with one bite).
积少成多 is more literal ('accumulate little to make much'). 聚沙成塔 is more poetic and visual because of the 'sand' and 'tower' imagery.
Yes, in this phrase, 塔 specifically refers to a Buddhist pagoda, which symbolizes something of great value or merit.
Yes, it is excellent for business. It shows that you value the contribution of every team member or every small sale.
Not really. If you want to talk about small problems becoming big, you might use 防微杜渐 (nip it in the bud) instead.
Absolutely. It is a quick way to encourage someone. For example, '加油，聚沙成塔！'
It is pronounced 'jù shā chéng tǎ' in Pinyin. Make sure to get the third tone on 塔 (tǎ) right!
Yes, it is very sweet to describe a long-term relationship built on small, daily acts of kindness.
Yes, it often appears in HSK 5 or 6 level materials and is a favorite for Chinese writing exams.
관련 표현
积少成多 (Accumulate little to make much)
水滴石穿 (Dripping water wears through stone)
集腋成裘 (Collecting fox fur to make a coat)
磨杵成针 (Grinding a rod into a needle)
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