小時了了，大未必佳 xiǎo shí liǎo liǎo ， dà wèi bì jiā

DEFINITIONS

  1. being bright at an early age does not necessarily bring success upon growing up (proverb)

CHARACTERS

小 xiǎo
HSK 1
small, tiny, insignificant
時 shí time, season; era, age, period
了 liǎo
HSK 1
to finish; particle of completed action
了 liǎo
HSK 1
to finish; particle of completed action
大 dà
HSK 1
big, great, vast, large, high
未 wèi
HSK 5
not yet; 8th terrestrial branch
必 bì
HSK 3
surely, most certainly; must
佳 jiā
HSK 6
good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful