sap6 nin4 syu6 muk6十年樹木十年树木
Jyutpingsap6 nin4 syu6 muk6
Yalesahp nìhn syuh muhk
Definition
It takes ten years to grow a mature tree; cultivation of trees is a long-term process.
neutralschoolpeople
How it's used
Commonly used in contexts related to education or personal development to emphasize the long term investment required for success. It is almost always followed by the second half of the idiom, 百年樹人, which shifts the focus from nature to the cultivation of human talent. Using only the first half is acceptable if the listener is expected to know the full proverb.
Examples
It takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred to cultivate a person; education is truly not easy.
Do you know what the saying 'it takes ten years to grow a tree' means?
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of gardening, but it is strictly a metaphorical expression about the difficulty and time required for nurturing people. Do not use it to describe actual tree planting.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
