📖 Meaning
A steady, sustainable trickle can endure indefinitely — this idiom advises pacing oneself and acting consistently over time rather than in rushed, unsustainable bursts. It is commonly used to describe wise financial management (spending a little at a time so savings last) or any long-term effort sustained by patience and moderation.
📜 Origin Story
Unlike many chengyu derived from specific classical texts, 细水长流 is a folk proverb that grew from the universal observation that a thin but steady stream can flow far longer than a violent torrent. The metaphor appears in vernacular literature and colloquial wisdom across many dynasties, but it does not trace to a single named source, dynasty, or historical figure. Its enduring popularity stems from its simple, vivid imagery of water management — a daily concern in agrarian China — applied metaphorically to financial prudence and persistent effort.
💡 Example Usage
理财要细水长流，每天存一点，日积月累就是一笔可观的积蓄。
When managing your finances, steady and small savings day by day add up to a considerable sum over time.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 细水长流
- Pinyin: xì shuǐ cháng liú
- Literal Translation: fine water, long flow
- Category: Perseverance
- Characters: 4