小しょうの虫むしを殺ころして大だいの虫むしを助たすける

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.

• 小しょうの虫むしを殺ころして大だいの虫むしを助たすけるというように、多た少しょうの犠ぎ牲せいは仕し方かたない。

  As the saying goes, 'sacrifice a small bug to save a large one' — some sacrifice is unavoidable.

• この治ち療りょう法ほうは副ふく作さ用ようが強つよいが、小しょうの虫むしを殺ころして大だいの虫むしを助たすけると思おもって続つづけている。

  This treatment has strong side effects, but I continue it thinking of it as sacrificing a small bug to save a large one.