きゅう
そう
 
うてな
 
るい
 
 
 
 

expression, Godan verb

Proverb, rare. From Tao Te Ching, also as 九層の台も累土より起こる.
  1. many a little makes a mickle, every little helps, the tower of nine stories (stories) rose from a small heap of earth.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
きゅう
そう
 
うてな
 
るい
 
 
 
 
九層の台は累土より起こる きゅうそうのうてなはるいどよりおこる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

nine
キュウ ク ここの (1st, N5)
stratum, social class, layer
ソウ (6th, N2)
corpse, remains, flag radical (no. 44)
シ かたしろ (Kentei 1)
formerly, once, before
ソ ソウ かつ (11th)
to divide
rice field, rice paddy
た デン たん (1st, N4)
day, sun, Japan
ひ にっ ニチ (1st, N5)
pedestal, a stand, counter for machines and vehicles
ダイ うてな われ (2nd, N4)
I, myself, katakana mu radical (no. 28)
シ ボウ ム (Kentei 1)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
accumulate, involvement, trouble
ルイ (9th, N1)
rice field, rice paddy
た デン たん (1st, N4)
thread
いと シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ ちいさい (Kentei 1)
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)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)
rouse, wake up, get up
お.きる キ おこ.す (3rd, N4)
run
はし.る ソウ はしり (2nd, N4)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)
stop, halt
と.まる シ どめ (2nd, N4)
divining, fortune-telling, divination or katakana to radical (no. 25)
ボク うらな.う うらない (Kentei Pre-1)
self
コ おのれ キ (6th, N1)