しょう
小
　
の
むし
虫
　
を
ころ
殺
　
し
　
て
だい
大
　
の
むし
虫
　
を
たす
助
　
け
　
る

expression, Ichidan verb

Proverb.
  1. to sacrifice something small in order to save something great, to lose a leg to save one's life, to kill a small bug and help a large one.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
しょう
小
　
の
むし
虫
　
を
ころ
殺
　
し
　
て
だい
大
　
の
むし
虫
　
を
たす
助
　
け
　
る
 小の虫を殺して大の虫を助ける しょうのむしをころしてだいのむしをたすける

Contained Kanji Breakdown

little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
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)
kill, murder, butcher
ころ.す　サツ　あや.める (4th, N3)
kill, slaughter, murder
mow, cut grass, subdue
ガイ　ゲ　おさ.める (Kentei 1)
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
pike, windy-again radical (no. 79)
シュ　また　ほこ (Kentei 1)
table, table enclosure, table or windy radical (no. 16)
キ　きにょう (Kentei 1)
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また　ユウ　やす (8th, N1)
large, big
ダイ　おお-　た (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
help, rescue, assist
たす.ける　すけ　ジョ (3rd, N3)
moreover, also, furthermore
か.つ　ショ　ソ (9th, N1)
month, moon
つき　ゲツ　ガツ (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
power, strength, strong
リョク　ちから　リキ (1st, N4)