expression, ichidan verb
sacrifice a small thing to save a greater one; lose a leg to save one's life
Proverb meaning to accept a small loss or sacrifice in order to protect or save something more important. The literal image is killing a small bug to help a large one.
As the saying goes, 'sacrifice a small bug to save a large one' — some sacrifice is unavoidable.
この治療法は副作用が強いが、小の虫を殺して大の虫を助けると思って続けている。
This treatment has strong side effects, but I continue it thinking of it as sacrificing a small bug to save a large one.