积少成多

jī shǎo chéng duō

many a little makes a lot; small amounts add up

Character by character

积jī
gather

少shǎo
little

成chéng
become

多duō
much

每天背十个单词，积少成多，一年就是三千多个。

Learn ten words a day and it adds up: in a year that is over three thousand.

Tone: positive (praise).

Used for saving money, food, knowledge or effort. Close to 聚沙成塔 (heap sand into a pagoda), which is more literary.

Learn this in Lesson 119 · HSK 7–9: 光盘不该是一阵风 (Editorial: clearing your plate)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.