Word Meaning 一寸の虫にも五分の魂

いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましい issun no mushinimogobu no tamashii

一寸の虫にも五分の魂 is read as いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましい (issun no mushinimogobu no tamashii) and means tread on a worm and it will turn.

Meaning

English

tread on a worm and it will turn
even a tiny bug will defend itself
even the weakest and smallest beings have their own wills, so do not make light of them

Reading

Kana

いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましい

Romaji

issun no mushinimogobu no tamashii

Stroke Sequence

10 Characters • 40 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N1 Jōyō Upper Grade Kanken 3級 Proverb ✓ Rank 105405 Priority Q

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

九寸五分

くすんごぶ

dagger

一球入魂

いっきゅうにゅうこん

putting one's heart and soul into each pitch

一寸

いっすん

little bit (of time, distance, etc.)

一寸見

ちょっとみ

look

一寸法師

いっすんぼうし

Issun-bōshi (Japanese fairytale)

一寸先

いっすんさき

an inch ahead

一寸

ちょと

(not) easily

一寸も

ちょっとも

(not) at all

一寸した

ちょっとした

considerable

一寸刻み

いっすんきざみ

(at a) snail's pace

一寸逃れ

いっすんのがれ

quibbling

一寸の光陰軽んずべからず

いっすんのこういんかろんずべからず

there isn't a moment to be wasted

Example Sentences

一寸の虫にも五分の魂。

いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましい。

Even a small insect has its pride.

一寸の虫にも五分の魂。

The worm turns.