Shí nián shù mù, bǎi nián shù rén.*

十年樹木, 百年樹人。

Lit [It takes] ten years to grow trees, [but] a hundred years to rear people.

Fig It takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred years to cultivate (a generation of) good people.

Note [Cf. Gǔnzi: Quán Xiū; note: bǎinián-shùrén has become a set phrase meaning “it takes a century to rear talented people”; see also yī nián shù gǔ below.]

Topics bǎinián-shùrén EDUCATION GENERATIONS GOODNESS Gǔnzi PEOPLE Quán Xiū TREES