# 集腋成裘

jí yè chéng qiú

Combine small contributions into a valuable whole

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Gather small pieces of fur into a coat

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Encourage pooled resources and cumulative effort.

Needs purposeful combination, not mere collecting.

## Understanding the expression

Small pieces that are individually insufficient can become a useful garment when gathered and joined. The expression encourages combining modest contributions toward a larger purpose. It suits community funding, shared research, and incremental savings. The value lies not only in quantity but in organization: someone must connect the pieces effectively. A large result can therefore depend on many people whose separate contributions look small when considered alone.

## Examples

大家各捐一点，集腋成裘。

### Traditional Chinese

大家各捐一點，集腋成裘。

dà jiā gè juān yì diǎn ， jí yè chéng qiú 。

Everyone’s small donations combine into a substantial contribution.

每天记录新词，集腋成裘。

### Traditional Chinese

每天記錄新詞，集腋成裘。

měi tiān jì lù xīn cí ， jí yè chéng qiú 。

Recording new words daily builds a substantial collection.

各村共享资料，集腋成裘。

### Traditional Chinese

各村共享資料，集腋成裘。

gè cūn gòng xiǎng zī liào ， jí yè chéng qiú 。

The villages pool their information into a useful whole.

零碎的节省也能集腋成裘。

### Traditional Chinese

零碎的節省也能集腋成裘。

líng suì de jié shěng yě néng jí yè chéng qiú 。

Even small savings can accumulate into something substantial.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%9B%86%E8%85%8B%E6%88%90%E8%A3%98)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=936&webMd=1&la=0)

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