后生可畏 hòu shēng kě wèi The younger generation is formidable

Explanation

后生可畏，意思是后辈年轻人值得敬畏，形容年轻人有才能，超过前辈。

The younger generation is formidable; means that the younger generation is talented and surpasses its predecessors.

Origin Story

春秋时期，孔子周游列国时，来到一个偏僻的小村庄。村里住着一位年过七旬的老农，他一辈子务农，对土地有着深厚的感情。孔子想向老农请教一些关于农业方面的知识，老农却对孔子的学问并不感兴趣，反倒向孔子讲述了他年轻时种植庄稼的经验。老农回忆说，他年轻时，为了提高粮食产量，他做了许多努力，比如改进耕作技术、选择良种，甚至还尝试过一些新的种植方法。这些方法不仅提高了粮食产量，也让他在村里赢得了好名声。孔子听完老农的讲述后，赞叹不已，说道：“后生可畏啊！老朽虽读万卷书，行万里路，但在农业方面，却远不如你！”老农朴实的话语中蕴含着丰富的经验，这让孔子深受启发。他意识到，即使是那些看似简单的劳动，也需要不断学习和创新。

Chunqiu shiqi, Kongzi Zhouyou Lieguo shi, laidao yige pianpi de xiaocunzhuang. Cunli zhùzhe yi wei nian guo qishun de laonong, ta yibèizi wunong, dui tudi youzhe shenhou de ganqing. Kongzi xiang xiang laonong qingjiao yixie guanyu nongye fangmian de zhishi, laonong que dui Kongzi de xuewen bing bu xingqu, fan dao xiang Kongzi jiangshu le ta niánqing shi zhongzhi zhuangjia de jingyan. Laonong huiyi shuo, ta niánqing shi, wei le tigao liangshi chanliang, ta zuole xuduo nuli, biri gaijin gengzuo jishu, xuze liangzhong, shenzhi hai changshi guo yixie xin de zhongzhi fangfa. Zhexie fangfa bing bu jin tigao le liangshi chanliang, ye rang ta zai cunli yingle hao ming sheng. Kongzi tingwan laonong de jiangshu hou, zantan buyi, shandao: "Houshengkewei a! Laoxiu sui du wanjuan shu, xing wanli lu, dan zai nongye fangmian, que yuan bu ru ni!" Laonong pushi de huayu zhong yunhanzhe fengfu de jingyan, zhe rang Kongzi shen shou qifa. Ta yishi dao, jishi shi na xie kansi jiandan de laodong, ye xuyao buduan xuexi he chuangxin.

During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius traveled to different states. In a small village, he met a farmer who was over seventy years old. He had spent his whole life farming and had a deep love for the land. Confucius wanted to ask the farmer about some knowledge of agriculture, but the farmer was not interested in Confucius' knowledge, instead he told Confucius about his experience in planting crops when he was young. The farmer recalled that when he was young, in order to improve grain yield, he made many efforts, such as improving farming techniques, selecting superior varieties, and even trying some new planting methods. These methods not only improved grain yield, but also won him a good reputation in the village. After Confucius heard the farmer's story, he praised him highly and said: "The young man is formidable! Although I have read ten thousand books and traveled ten thousand miles, I am far inferior to you in agriculture!" The farmer's simple words contained rich experience, which inspired Confucius greatly. He realized that even the seemingly simple work requires continuous learning and innovation.

Usage

用于赞扬年轻人有才能，超过前辈。

yongyu zanyangle qingnian youcaineng,chaoguo qianbei

Used to praise young people who are talented and surpass their predecessors.

Examples

• 年轻人的创造力真是后生可畏！

  qingnianrende chuangzaoli shizhenghoushengkewei

  The creativity of young people is really admirable!

• 看到这些年轻人的作品，我不禁感叹后生可畏。

  kanda zhexie qingnianrende zuopin,wobujin gantan houshengkewei

  Seeing the works of these young people, I can't help but admire the younger generation.

Related Idioms

• 少年老成

• 英姿勃勃

Opposite Idioms

• 少不更事

• 乳臭未干