冰山一角 bīngshān-yìjiǎo tip of the iceberg
How to remember 冰山一角: 冰 ice + 山 mountain + 一 one + 角 horn = tip of the iceberg.
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How it is used
- 'The tip of the iceberg' - a small visible part of a much larger hidden problem: 这只是冰山一角 (zhè zhǐshì bīngshān-yìjiǎo) this is just the tip of the iceberg.
- A direct calque of the English metaphor, used exactly the same way; implies most of the trouble lies unseen beneath.