千里之行，始于足下
qiān​lǐ​zhī​xíng​shǐ​yú​zú​xià

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

  1. 千里 qiān​lǐ
    a thousand li
    one thousand 里 lǐ; approximately 500 kilometers; used metaphorically to mean a very long distance
  2. 之 zhī particle
    [possessive]
    Connects a describing word or phrase to the noun it describes, similar to 的 de but used in formal or literary writing.
  3. 行 xíng verbnoun
    to go
    to walk; to go; to travel; (bound form) relating to travel or a journey
  4. ， shǐ
    non-Chinese
  5. 始 shǐ verb
    to begin
    (bound form) to begin; to start; to initiate
  6. 于 於 yú preposition
    from
    Indicates a source, origin, or starting point; equivalent to 从 cóng or 自 zì
  7. 足下 zú​xià
    underfoot
    literally beneath the feet; on the ground where one stands