Step without accumulation is an idiom in China. Kuǐ bù is also called "step". One step, half a step. It is often used with the last sentence "not a thousand miles in a day", which means that you will never achieve your goal by doing things bit by bit.
If you don't accumulate steps, you can't become a river. The whole sentence means: without the accumulation of one step and half a step, there is no way to reach a place thousands of miles away; Without accumulated rivers, there is no way to merge into rivers and seas.
Extended data:
Excerpt from the original:
Accumulated soil becomes mountains, and the wind and rain are prosperous; The water drops merged into the ocean and the dragon was born; Accumulate goodness into virtue, the gods are complacent, and the sacred heart is prepared. Therefore, you can't take Wan Li Road without accumulating steps; If you don't accumulate small streams, you won't be a river. You can't jump ten paces, but you can't help it. Perseverance, rotten wood can't be carved; Perseverance, the stone can be carved. Earthworms do not have the advantages of minions, and their bones and muscles are strong. They eat the earth and drink the yellow land with their hearts.
Translation:
Earth and stone pile up into mountains, and the wind and rain start from here; Water flows into the abyss, and dragons are born from it; Accumulate good deeds and cultivate noble character, then you will reach a high degree of wisdom and you will have the spiritual realm of a saint. Therefore, without the accumulation of half a step, there is no way to reach thousands of miles away; Without the accumulation of tiny flowing water, there is no way to merge into the rivers and seas.
The horse jumped less than ten paces; A bad horse has been pulling for ten days, and its success lies in its non-stop walking. If it stops after a while, the rotten wood will continue to be carved. Stick to carving and the stone will be carved successfully. Earthworms have no sharp claws, teeth, strong bones and muscles, but they can eat dirt and drink spring water because they are single-minded.
Xunzi (about 365438 BC+03-238 BC), Ming Qing, Han nationality. Because he avoided the taboo, the Western Han Dynasty's, Xun and Sun were also called. During the Warring States Period on weekends, Zhao people. A famous thinker, writer, politician and one of the representatives of Confucianism, he is known as "Xun Qing". He went to Gong Xue, Xia Ji, the State of Qi for three times, and was later ordered by Lan Ling of Chu (now Lan Ling of Shandong). Xunzi developed Confucianism and advocated the theory of evil nature, which is often compared with Mencius' theory of good nature. It has also made considerable contributions to the collation of Confucian classics.