少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲 shào zhuàng bù nǔ lì ， lǎo dà tú shāng bēi

work hard when young or regret when old

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. if you are lazy in your prime, you'll be sorry in your old age

Characters

Character Meaning
少 shào HSK 1
few; less; to lack
壮 zhuàng HSK 6
strong; robust; to strengthen
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
努 nǔ HSK 3
to strive; to exert
力 lì HSK 3
strength; force; power
老 lǎo HSK 1
old (of people)
大 dà HSK 1
big; large; great
徒 tú HSK 6
on foot; only; disciple
伤 shāng HSK 4
to injure; injury; wound
悲 bēi HSK 5
sad; sorrow; grief