Translation guide
This concept involves giving up something of lesser value to protect or preserve something of greater value. Japanese expresses this through set phrases, proverbs, and strategic expressions.
Express the idea of giving up something minor to achieve or protect something major.
A direct phrase meaning 'without being fixated on small matters, take the important thing'. It clearly conveys the trade-off.
小事にこだわらず大事を取りましょう。
Let's not get hung up on small things and focus on what's important.
A literal translation: 'sacrifice something small to protect something big'. It is understandable but less idiomatic than set phrases.
時には小さなものを犠牲にして大きなものを守る必要がある。
Sometimes you need to sacrifice something small to protect something big.
Use a well-known Japanese proverb to express this idea succinctly.
A classic proverb meaning 'abandon the small and take the large'. It is concise and widely recognized.
小を捨てて大に就くという考え方も時には必要だ。
Sometimes the mindset of sacrificing the small for the great is necessary.
A variation meaning 'throw away small matters and take the important matter'. Similar to the above but slightly more explanatory.
小事を捨てて大事を取るのが賢明だ。
It's wise to sacrifice the small for the great.
Express the idea of accepting a small loss to avoid a larger one, often in business or games.
A noun/suru-verb meaning 'cutting losses'. Commonly used in investing and business to mean selling at a loss to prevent further damage.
早めに損切りすることが大切だ。
It's important to cut your losses early.
Means 'a painful decision'. It implies sacrificing something now for a better outcome later.
これは痛みを伴う決断だが、将来のためには必要だ。
This is a painful decision, but it's necessary for the future.
Convey that achieving something great requires some sacrifice.
The direct translation of the English idiom. It is understood in Japanese and used in similar contexts.
卵を割らなければオムレツは作れないんだから、多少の犠牲は仕方ない。
You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, so some sacrifice is unavoidable.
A Japanese proverb meaning 'you can't substitute your stomach with your back', i.e., you must endure a lesser evil to avoid a greater one. It implies sacrificing something small for a greater need.
背に腹はかえられぬから、嫌な仕事でも引き受けた。
I had to sacrifice my preferences for the greater need, so I took the unpleasant job.
The proverb 「小を捨てて大に就く」 is concise and natural in formal or advisory contexts. The literal 「小さなものを犠牲にして大きなものを守る」 is clearer but wordy; use it when you need to be explicit.
小を捨てて大に就くのが得策だ。
It's advantageous to sacrifice the small for the great.
「損切り」 is a financial term but can be used metaphorically in other areas like projects or relationships to mean cutting your losses before things get worse.