Jisho.org: Japanese Dictionary

しょうむしころだいむしい小の虫を殺して大の虫を生かす

Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Godan verb with 'su' ending

1. to sacrifice something small in order to save something great; to lose a leg to save one's life; to kill a small bug and save a large oneProverb

0.33150376213151106

3 strokes. JLPT N5. Jōyō kanji, taught in grade 1.

小

little, small

Kun: ちい.さい、こ-、お-、さ-

On: ショウ

1.9643051870161028

6 strokes. JLPT N2. Jōyō kanji, taught in grade 1.

虫

insect, bug, temper

Kun: むし

On: チュウ、キ

4.22376503943877

10 strokes. JLPT N3. Jōyō kanji, taught in grade 5.

殺

kill, murder, butcher, slice off, split, diminish, reduce, spoil

Kun: ころ.す、 -ごろ.し、そ.ぐ、あや.める

On: サツ、サイ、セツ

0.020355494165969976

3 strokes. JLPT N5. Jōyō kanji, taught in grade 1.

大

large, big

Kun: おお-、おお.きい、 -おお.いに

On: ダイ、タイ

0.08432990440187563

5 strokes. JLPT N5. Jōyō kanji, taught in grade 1.

生

life, genuine, birth

Kun: い.きる、い.かす、い.ける、う.まれる、うま.れる、う.まれ、うまれ、う.む、お.う、は.える、は.やす、き、なま、なま-、な.る、な.す、む.す、 -う

On: セイ、ショウ

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