半路出家 bàn lù chū jiā late bloomer

Explanation

原指成年后才出家做和尚或尼姑。比喻中途改行，从事另一工作。

Originally it referred to becoming a monk or nun in adulthood. Figuratively, it means changing careers mid-life and taking up a different job.

Origin Story

话说北宋年间，杨家将屡立战功，保家卫国，威名远播。然而，命运弄人，在与辽军的多次交战中，杨家将损失惨重，许多英勇的将士都战死沙场。其中，杨家七郎杨延嗣，在一次战斗中不幸战死，年仅20岁。他的母亲佘太君悲痛欲绝，整日以泪洗面。为了纪念他，佘太君决定为儿子修建一座衣冠冢。消息传出，许多百姓都自发前来帮忙，还有不少人捐款捐物，表达对杨延嗣的敬意和对杨家将的敬佩。然而，在建设过程中，却出现了一个小小的意外，在修建衣冠冢的过程中，负责运输石材的工匠们，因为道路崎岖，再加上一些其他的意外情况，导致工程进度缓慢，这让他们不得不紧急寻找替代方案。这时，一位年过半百的木匠，自告奋勇，他虽然不是专业的石匠，但他有着丰富的木工经验，他相信自己可以找到一种合适的替代方案。他经过几天的冥思苦想，终于想出了一个办法，用木头来代替石材。这种木头的选择非常考究，不仅要坚固耐用，还要具有防腐和防潮的性能。他找到了合适的木头，经过精雕细琢，竟然做出了一个与石材衣冠冢相似的木头衣冠冢，精巧无比。这个木头衣冠冢不但在外观上与石材的没有太大的区别，而且在实用性上也比石材的更强。这个意外的惊喜，让杨家上下欣喜若狂，也让那些原本失望的百姓们重燃希望。最终，杨延嗣的衣冠冢得以顺利完成，成为了一个新的景点，每年吸引着无数的游客前来参观。

huà shuō běi sòng nián jiān, yáng jiā jiàng lǚ lì zhàn gōng, bǎo jiā wèi guó, wēi míng yuǎn bò. rán'ér, mìngyùn nòng rén, zài yǔ liáo jūn de duō cì jiāo zhàn zhōng, yáng jiā jiàng sǔnshī cǎn zhòng, xǔ duō yīng yǒng de jiàng shì dōu zhàn sǐ shā chǎng. qí zhōng, yáng jiā qī láng yáng yán sì, zài yī cì zhàn dòu zhōng bù xìng zhàn sǐ, nián jǐn 20 suì. tā de mǔ qīn shé tài jūn bēi tòng yù jué, zhěng rì yǐ lèi xiàn miàn. wèi le jì niàn tā, shé tài jūn juédìng wèi ér zi xiū jiàn yī zuò yī guān zhǒng. xiāoxī chuán chū, xǔ duō bǎi xìng dōu zìfā lái qián bāng máng, hái yǒu bù shǎo rén juān kuǎn juān wù, biǎodá duì yáng yán sì de jìng yì hé duì yáng jiā jiàng de jìng pèi. rán'ér, zài jiàn shè guò chéng zhōng, què chū xiàn le yī gè xiǎo xiǎo de yì wài, zài xiū jiàn yī guān zhǒng de guò chéng zhōng, fùzé yùnshū shí cái de gōng jiàng men, yīnwèi dàolù qū qū, zài jiā shang yī xiē qí tā de yì wài qíng kuàng, dǎozhì gōng chéng jìndù màn màn, zhè ràng tāmen bù děi bù jǐnjí xún zhǎo tì dài fāng'àn. zhè shí, yī wèi nián guò bàn bǎi de mù jiàng, zì gào yǒng, tā suīrán bù shì zhuān yè de shí jiàng, dàn tā yǒu zhe fēngfù de mù gōng jīng yàn, tā xiāngxìn zìjǐ kěyǐ zhǎodào yī zhǒng héshì de tì dài fāng'àn. tā jīng guò jǐ tiān de míng sī kǔ xiǎng, zhōngyú xiǎng chū le yī gè bànfa, yòng mù tou lái dài dài shí cái. zhè zhǒng mù tou de xuǎnzé fēicháng kǎo jiù, bù jǐn yào jiānfù nàiyòng, hái yào jùyǒu fáng fǔ hé fáng cháo de xìng néng. tā zhǎodào le héshì de mù tou, jīng guò jīng diāo xī zhuó, jìng rán zuò chū le yī gè yǔ shí cái yī guān zhǒng xiāng sì de mù tou yī guān zhǒng, jīng qiǎo wú bǐ. zhège mù tou yī guān zhǒng bù jǐn zài wài guān shàng yǔ shí cái de méiyǒu tài dà de quē bié, érqiě zài shí yòng xìng shàng yě bǐ shí cái de gèng qiáng. zhège yì wài de jīng xǐ, ràng yáng jiā shàng xià xīn xǐ ruò kuáng, yě ràng nà xiē yuánběn shī wàng de bǎi xìng men chóng rán xī wàng. zhōng yú, yáng yán sì de yī guān zhǒng déyǐ shùnlì wán chéng, chéng wéi le yī gè xīn de jǐng diǎn, měi nián xīyǐn zhe wú shù de yóukè lái qián cānguān.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yang Family Generals made repeated contributions to their country, gaining widespread fame. However, fate played a cruel hand, and in numerous battles against the Liao army, the Yang Family Generals suffered heavy losses, with many brave soldiers dying on the battlefield. Among them was Yang Yansì, the seventh son of the Yang family, who unfortunately died in battle at the young age of 20. His mother, She Taijun, was heartbroken and wept day and night. To commemorate her son, She Taijun decided to build a cenotaph for him. News of this spread and many people volunteered to help with the construction, many also donated money and supplies as a tribute to Yang Yansì and in admiration for the Yang Family Generals. However, during construction, there was a minor incident. Due to difficult terrain and other unexpected circumstances, the project fell behind schedule. Workers were urgently seeking alternative solutions. At this time, a carpenter in his fifties bravely stepped forward. Although he wasn't a professional stonemason, he possessed extensive woodworking experience, and he believed he could find a suitable replacement solution. After several days of pondering, he came up with a plan: to use wood instead of stone. The selection of wood was crucial; it needed to be strong, durable, and resistant to decay and moisture. He found the perfect wood and, with meticulous craftsmanship, he managed to produce a cenotaph from wood that closely resembled one made from stone—remarkably exquisite. This wooden cenotaph not only resembled the stone version in appearance but was also more practical. This unexpected stroke of luck elated the Yang family and revived the hope of those previously disheartened. Ultimately, Yang Yansì's cenotaph was successfully completed and has become a new attraction, drawing countless visitors each year.

Usage

作宾语、定语；形容中途开始干某事

zuò bīnyǔ, dìngyǔ; xíngróng zhōngdù kāishǐ gàn mǒushì

Used as an object or attributive; describes something started midway.

Examples

• 他虽然是半路出家，但凭借自己的努力，最终在编程领域取得了很大的成就。

  tā suīrán shì bàn lù chū jiā, dàn píngjié zìjǐ de nǔlì, zhōngyú zài biānchéng lǐngyù qǔdé le hěn dà de chéngjiù

  Although he started programming late in life, he has achieved great success in this field through his own efforts.

• 虽然他半路出家学医，但医术却非常高明。

  suīrán tā bàn lù chū jiā xué yī, dàn yīshù què fēicháng gāomíng

  Although he started studying medicine later in life, his medical skills are very sophisticated.

Related Idioms

• 改行

• 转行

Opposite Idioms

• 科班出身

• 专业人士