察微知著

Traditional form:

察微知著

Pinyin (reading):

cháwēizhīzhù

Definitions:

• to examine tiny clues to know general trends (idiom)
• to deduce the whole story from small traces

Characters:

• 察 - to examine, to investigate, to observe
• 微 - small, tiny, trifling; micro-
• 知 - to know, to perceive, to comprehend
• 著 - to show, to prove, to make known

Traditional characters:

• 察 - to examine, to investigate, to observe
• 微 - small, tiny, trifling; micro-
• 知 - to know, to perceive, to comprehend
• 著 - to show, to prove, to make known