siu3 zong3 bat1 nou5 lik6 ，lou5 daai6 tou4 soeng1 bei1少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲

Jyutpingsiu3 zong3 bat1 nou5 lik6 ，lou5 daai6 tou4 soeng1 bei1

Yalesiu jong bāt nóuh lihk ，lóuh daaih tòuh sēung bēi

Definition

If one does not work hard in youth, one will regret it in old age in vain.

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How it's used

This is a classic line from a poem in the Han Dynasty, often used as a stern warning to children or students who are wasting their time. It carries a heavy, didactic tone and is rarely used in casual conversation unless someone is being scolded or given serious life advice. Because it is a fixed literary phrase, it is usually quoted in its entirety rather than being broken up or modified.

Examples

siu2少zong3壯bat1不nou5努lik6力，lou5老daai6大tou4徒soeng1傷bei1悲，nei5你ming4明m4唔ming4明aa4呀？

Do you understand that if you don't work hard while you're young, you'll regret it when you're old?

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日gwaa3掛zyu6住wun6玩，zan1真hai6係siu2少zong3壯bat1不nou5努lik6力，lou5老daai6大tou4徒soeng1傷bei1悲。

He is always busy playing; he really fits the saying about regretting a wasted youth in old age.

Common phrases

tou4徒soeng1傷bei1悲

to grieve in vain

Common mistake

Learners often try to use this as a normal sentence, but it is a classical idiom that sounds extremely formal and preachy. It is not a phrase you would use to describe your own feelings or a casual situation, as it implies a moral judgment on someone's lack of ambition.