This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

小の虫を殺して大の虫を生かす

Reading

Kana: しょうのむしをころしてだいのむしをいかす
Romaji: shōnomushiwokoroshitedainomushiwoikasu
Kana
Romaji

Definition

exp
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 one

Note: proverb

Kanji

Readings: ショウ、 ちい.さい、 こ-、 お-、 さ-
Meanings: little, small
Readings: チュウ、 キ、 むし
Meanings: insect, bug, temper
Readings: サツ、 サイ、 セツ、 ころ.す、 -ごろ.し、 そ.ぐ
Meanings: kill, murder, butcher, slice off, split, diminish, reduce, spoil
Readings: ダイ、 タイ、 おお-、 おお.きい、 -おお.いに
Meanings: large, big
Readings: セイ、 ショウ、 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
Meanings: life, genuine, birth