Kōngxīn dà shù bù chéngcái.

空心大樹不成材。

Lit Trees with hollow cores can't become fine wood. (fig/pun) One who has no education can accomplish nothing.

Note [Note: mùcái, “wooden material” and réncái, “talented people”; chéngcái, (1) “grow into useful timber”; (2) “become a useful person”; bùchéngcái is also an idiomatic expression meaning “good-for-nothing”; see also shù bù xiū below.]

Topics bùchéngcái chéngcái EDUCATION idiomatic expression pun