Deducing Significant Changes from Subtle Signs
看到细微的苗头，就能推知可能发生的显著变化及结局，比喻小中见大。从中医对于疾病认识的角度而言，微，指微小、局部的变化；著，指明显的、整体的情况。见微知著，是指机体的某些局部的、微小的变化，常包含着整体的生理、病理信息，局部的细微变化常可反映出整体的状况，整体的病变可以从多方面表现出来。通过这些微小的变化，可以测知整体的情况。中医对脉、面、舌、耳等的诊察，都是这一原理的体现。
Subtle signs could indicate significant changes and outcomes that may occur. It figuratively means predicting the big from the small. According to traditional Chinese medicine, wei (微, subtle or tiny) refers to small, local changes in body parts and zhu (著, significant) refers to obvious, overall state of the body. The term means that local and minor changes can indicate the physiological and pathological information of the whole body, i.e., the overall condition is mirrored in local subtle changes as the diseases in whole body can be manifested in many aspects. By examining these subtle changes, the overall condition can be determined. Examinations of pulse, face, tongue, and ears are the applications of this principle in practice.
引例Citations：
◎病至思治，末也。见微知著，弥患于未萌，是为上工。（《医学心悟》卷一）
（病来了才想起治疗为下工。见微知著，消灭隐患于未萌芽状态，这就是高明的医生。）
Treating a disease when it occurs is what the inferior doctor does. The superior doctor could deduce significant changes from subtle signs and would nip potential risks in the bud. (Medical Understanding)
◎倘能见微知著，宁至相寻于覆辙耶。（《寓意草》卷二）
（倘若能见微知著，难道会接连不断的犯前人失败的教训吗？）
If you can deduce significant changes when noticing subtle signs of a disease, will you repeat the mistakes of your predecessors? (Yu Chang’s Case Records and Treatments)
◎古人治未病不治已病，知者见微知著，自当加意调摄为佳。（《静香楼医案》）
（古人在还没有生病的时候就进行预防，而不是在生病之后才去治疗，懂得这个道理的人，见微知著，自然应该注重调养为上。）
The ancients put prevention first instead of treating patients when they fall ill. Those who understand this principle could predict significant changes of the diseases when noticing subtle signs; therefore, regulating and cultivating health is the best strategy. (Case Records of Jingxiang Mansion)