Hēi fà bù zhī qínxué zǎo; bǎishǒu fāng huǐ dúshū chí.

黑髮不知勤學早, 白首方悔讀書遲。

Lit [When one has] black hair [and one does] not know [how important it is to] study hard early [in life, then] only [later when one has a] white head will [one] regret [that it is] too late to study.

Fig If one doesn't study hard when young, then one will regret it later, when one is too old to learn.

Note [See also lǎo bù xiēxīn and qián sānshí nián shuì and shàozhuàng bù nǔlì below.]

Topics AGE REGRET STUDYING