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十年树木

十年樹木
shínián-shùmù
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 it takes ten years to grow a tree
  2. 2 long-term investment pays off slowly
  3. 3 patience is required for growth

Examples

十年树木，百年树人，教育不能急于求成。
Shíniánshùmù, bǎiniánshùrén, jiàoyù bùnéng jíyúqiúchéng.
It takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred to grow a person — education can't be rushed.
他常引用十年树木这句话勉励年轻老师。
Tā cháng yǐnyòng shíniánshùmù zhè jù huà miǎn lì niánqīng lǎoshī.
He often quotes 'ten years to grow a tree' to encourage young teachers.

Tips

history
Shortened from 《管子·权修》: 一年之计，莫如树谷；十年之计，莫如树木；终身之计，莫如树人. Almost always paired with 百年树人.
usage
Typically invoked to argue for patience in education, long-term planning, or cultivating talent.

Stroke Order

十 shí
年 nián
树 shù
木 mù