不成器

bùchéngqì

idiom

Meanings

1 good for nothing
2 to never amount to anything
3 a wastrel; a ne'er-do-well

Characters

vessel; implement; calibre

Examples

HSK 4

这孩子要是再不学好，真要不成器了。

Zhè háizi yàoshì zài bù xuéhǎo, zhēn yào bùchéngqì le.

If this kid doesn't shape up, he really will amount to nothing.

HSK 5

他骂儿子是不成器的东西。

Tā mà érzi shì bùchéngqì de dōngxi.

He cursed his son as a good-for-nothing.

HSK 7-9

别担心，他只是贪玩，不是不成器。

Bié dānxīn, tā zhǐshì tānwán, búshì bùchéngqì.

Don't worry - he's just playful, not hopeless.

Tips

history

From 《礼记·学记》: 玉不琢，不成器；人不学，不知道 - 'jade uncarved makes no vessel; a person unschooled knows nothing.' The original image: raw material that fails to become a useful implement.

register

Cutting. Most at home in parental scolding (你这不成器的东西) and self-deprecation (我这不成器的儿子).

Stroke Order

不 bù

成 chéng

器 qì