A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
📜 Origin
《荀子》
💡 Detailed Explanation
"Bu Ji Kui Bu" (Not Accumulating Half-Steps) comes from Xunzi's "Exhortation to Learning," with the original text reading: "If you do not accumulate half-steps, you cannot reach a thousand li; if you do not accumulate small streams, you cannot form rivers and seas." Here, "kui bu" refers to the ancient way of walking: one foot forward is a "kui," and two feet together make a "bu," meaning half a step or a small step. The literal meaning of the idiom is: without accumulating every small step, one cannot reach a thousand li away. Its deeper meaning emphasizes that any great achievement originates from bit-by-bit accumulation, opposing the pursuit of quick success and instant benefits or aiming too high while despising solid progress. It is mostly used in scenarios of encouraging learning, motivating oneself, self-cultivation, or team building, reminding people to value the foundation and the process. In terms of cultural background, it embodies the Confucian scholarly spirit of valuing gradual progress and perseverance. Its emotional tone is relatively neutral, often carrying a sense of encouragement and admonition, and it can be used both for self-encouragement and for teaching others. In modern times, it is often used together with idioms such as "hou ji bo fa" (deep accumulation for a thin release) and "shui di shi chuan" (water dripping wears through stone), encouraging people to be down-to-earth and start from the smallest details.
📝 Example
Learning a foreign language is not something you can master overnight. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If you memorize a few words and practice a few spoken sentences every day, you will make a qualitative leap after a year.
In the early days of starting a business, funds were limited, but the team firmly believed that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. They started with small orders one by one and eventually opened up the market.