Definition
This is a classical Chinese idiom (成语) that literally means 'a journey of a thousand li begins beneath one's feet.' It's the Chinese equivalent of 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' — emphasizing that great achievements start with small, concrete actions. You'll encounter it in formal writing, speeches, and motivational contexts. The full form is 千里之行始于足下, though it's often shortened to 千里之行 or just the first half in conversation.
id.
a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step (idiom)great undertakings start from small beginnings
Examples
- 千里之行始于足下，。qiān lǐ zhī háng, zuò dà shì yào cóng xiǎo shì zuò qǐ.A journey of a thousand li begins with a single step — to accomplish great things, you must start with small ones.
- 千里之行始于足下。Lǎoshī yòng qiān lǐ zhī háng lái gǔlì wǒmen jiānchí xuéxí.The teacher used the saying 'a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step' to encourage us to persist in our studies.
- 千里之行始于足下，，。qiān lǐ zhī háng, zhǐyào měitiān jìnbù yì diǎn, jiù néng shíxiàn mùbiāo.A journey of a thousand li begins with a single step — as long as you make a little progress every day, you can achieve your goal.
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