How do you pronounce 小时了了，大未必佳?

小时了了，大未必佳 is pronounced xiǎo shí liǎo liǎo ， dà wèi bì jiā in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 小时了了，大未必佳 literally mean?

Literally, 小时了了，大未必佳 means “Clever in childhood, not necessarily excellent as an adult”. It is used to mean “a child prodigy does not necessarily become a great adult”.

Where does 小时了了，大未必佳 come from?

小时了了，大未必佳 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 小时了了，大未必佳?

了了：聪明伶俐，明白事理。指人少年时聪明，长大后不一定有出息

小时了了，大未必佳 — “A child prodigy does not necessarily become a great adult”

小时了了，大未必佳 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a child prodigy does not necessarily become a great adult”. Early brilliance does not guarantee future success. Literally, “Clever in childhood, not necessarily excellent as an adult”.

Frequency

小时了了，大未必佳 Pronunciation and Pinyin

小xiǎo
时shí
了liǎo
了liǎo
，，
大dà
未wèi
必bì
佳jiā

小时了了，大未必佳 Character Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
小	xiǎo	3	small, little, young, minor
时	shí	7	time, moment, or hour
了	liǎo	2	completion or change
了	liǎo	2	completion or change
，	，	—
大	dà	3	large, big, great
未	wèi	5	not yet
必	bì	5	must, bound to
佳	jiā	8	Beautiful, good, excellent

Example Sentence with 小时了了，大未必佳

他小时候成绩一直名列前茅，是个公认的神童，但老师也提醒大家，小时了了，大未必佳，还需要继续努力。

He always topped his class as a child and was recognized as a prodigy, but the teacher also reminded everyone that early brilliance doesn't guarantee future success, and continuous effort is still needed.

Origin and Story of 小时了了，大未必佳

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, 10-year-old Kong Rong went to visit Li Yuanli, the famous governor of Henan, claiming to be a relative. Li Yuanli didn't recognize him, so Kong Rong cleverly linked the descendants of Laozi and Confucius as relatives to establish their connection.

Chen Wei, a Grand Master, mocked Kong Rong, saying, 'Clever in childhood, but not necessarily outstanding as an adult.'

Kong Rong immediately retorted, 'I imagine you must have been very clever in your childhood too!'

Idioms Related to 小时了了，大未必佳

Synonyms of 小时了了，大未必佳

xiǎo小shí时liǎo了liǎo了clever in childhood but not necessarily later

More idioms starting with 小

Questions about 小时了了，大未必佳

What does 小时了了，大未必佳 mean?: 小时了了，大未必佳 (xiǎo shí liǎo liǎo ， dà wèi bì jiā) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a child prodigy does not necessarily become a great adult”.
How do you pronounce 小时了了，大未必佳?: 小时了了，大未必佳 is pronounced xiǎo shí liǎo liǎo ， dà wèi bì jiā in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 小时了了，大未必佳 literally mean?: Literally, 小时了了，大未必佳 means “Clever in childhood, not necessarily excellent as an adult”. It is used to mean “a child prodigy does not necessarily become a great adult”.
Where does 小时了了，大未必佳 come from?: 小时了了，大未必佳 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 小时了了，大未必佳?: 了了：聪明伶俐，明白事理。指人少年时聪明，长大后不一定有出息

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