少壯不努力,老大徒傷悲 shào zhuàng bù nǔ lì , lǎo dà tú shāng bēi

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

少 shào few, less, inadequate
壯 zhuàng big, large; robust; name of tribe
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
努 nǔ to exert, strive, make an effort; to pout
力 lì power, capability, influence
老 lǎo old, aged; experienced
大 dà big, great, vast, large, high
徒 tú disciple, follower; go on foot
傷 shāng wound, injury; fall ill from
悲 bēi sorrow, grief; sorry, sad