The idiom "九牛一毛" (jiǔ niú yī máo) originates from a fable in the book "Zhuangzi: Lie Yukou." It tells the story of a man who lost a single strand of hair in the vast mountains and searched extensively but in vain. He then decided to employ the strength of nine oxen to find the lost hair, yet even their 巨大（jùdà）immense power proved futile in locating the inconsequential strand of hair.
巨大（jùdà），adj，immense
The scale of this mountain is so immense that it's hard to believe.
这座山的规模是如此巨大，让人难以置信。
Zhè zuò shān de guīmó shì rúcǐ jùdà, ràng rén nányǐ zhìxìn.
This building is extremely immense.
这栋楼非常巨大。
Zhè dòng lóu fēicháng jùdà.
Inspiration
The inspiration from this story lies in the reminder that sometimes, even the most minute matters should not be disregarded, as they may have significant implications. It advises humility, discouraging arrogance and vanity, while also encouraging the appreciation of the smallest of things. Furthermore, it emphasizes the power of teamwork, illustrating that, despite individual strengths, collective efforts are often necessary to achieve success.
Meaning of Expressions
- 九牛一毛 (jiǔ niú yī máo): To describe something as extremely inconsequential or not worth mentioning.
- 微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào): To the extent of being extremely 小（xiǎo）small or trivial.
- 寓言 (yù yán): A story or metaphor used to convey a lesson or moral.
小（xiǎo），adj，small
The cat is small.
这只猫很小。
Zhè zhī māo hěn xiǎo.
I have a small bag.
我有一个小包。
Wǒ yǒu yīgè xiǎo bāo.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, the story of "九牛一毛" continues to hold valuable lessons. It serves as a reminder not to underestimate the importance of small issues or details, as they can often have significant impacts on the whole. In both work and personal life, teamwork remains crucial, as even the most individually capable people may require collaboration with others to tackle various challenges.
Losing a pencil in the classroom is as hard to find as a needle in a haystack!
在教室里丢一支铅笔就像九牛一毛一样难找！
Zài jiàoshì lǐ diū yī zhī qiān bǐ jiù xiàng jiǔ niú yī máo yīyàng nán zhǎo!
A grain of sand in the desert is like finding a needle in a haystack; it's almost invisible.
沙漠中的一粒沙就像九牛一毛，几乎看不见。
Shāmò zhōng de yīlì shā jiù xiàng jiǔ niú yī máo, jǐhū kànbujiàn.
The earring she lost in the jewelry store is like a needle in a haystack, tiny but precious.
珠宝店里她丢失的耳环就像九牛一毛，微小但宝贵。
Zhūbǎo diàn lǐ tā diūshī de ěrhuán jiù xiàng jiǔ niú yī máo, wēixiǎo dàn bǎoguì.