いっ
一
すん
寸
　
の
むし
虫
　
に
　
も
ご
五
ぶ
分
　
の
たましい
魂

expression

Proverb.
  1. 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.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
いっ
一
すん
寸
　
の
むし
虫
　
に
　
も
ご
五
ぶ
分
　
の
たましい
魂
 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

Contained Kanji Breakdown

one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little
スン　す　みき (6th, N1)
insect, bug, temper
むし　チュウ　キ (1st, N2)
in, inside, middle
なか　チュウ　うち (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
rising stroke
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
five
ゴ　い　いつ (1st, N5)
part, minute of time, segment
ブン　わ.ける　ブ (2nd)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
sword, saber, knife
かたな　トウ　ち (2nd, N1)
soul, spirit
たましい　コン　たま (Late Jr. High, N1)
say
ウン　い.う　ここに (Kentei Pre-1)
two, two radical (no. 7)
ニ　ふた　ふだ (1st, N5)
I, myself, katakana mu radical (no. 28)
シ　ボウ　ム (Kentei 1)
ghost, devil
おに　キ (Early Jr. High, N1)
head or face of a ghost, spirit, or demon
フツ　フチ　ヒ
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
rice field, rice paddy
た　デン　たん (1st, N4)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン　ニン　がい (Kentei 1)