一针一线

一針一線

yīzhēnyīxiàn

idiom #72,116

Meanings

1 a single needle and thread
2 every tiny thing
3 even the smallest item

Characters

Examples

战士不拿群众一针一线。

Zhànshì bù ná qúnzhòng yīzhēnyīxiàn.

Soldiers don't take so much as a needle or thread from the people.

奶奶节俭，连一针一线都舍不得浪费。

Nǎinai jiéjiǎn, lián yīzhēnyīxiàn dōu shěbude làngfèi.

Grandma is so frugal she won't waste even a needle or thread.

公司财物，一针一线都要登记清楚。

Gōngsī cáiwù, yīzhēnyīxiàn dōu yào dēngjì qīngchu.

Every last item of company property, no matter how small, has to be properly logged.

Tips

culture

Most famously associated with the PLA's 三大纪律八项注意 ('Three Rules and Eight Points'): 不拿群众一针一线 — don't take a needle or thread from civilians. The phrase is now a stock symbol of strict integrity.

history

Recorded in 曹雪芹's 《红楼梦》, where Wang Xifeng claims to know every needle and thread among her maids' belongings.

Stroke Order

一 yī

针 zhēn

线 xiàn