百年树人

百年樹人

bǎinián-shùrén

idiom

Meanings

1 it takes a hundred years to grow a person
2 educating people is a long-term endeavor
3 nurturing talent takes generations

Characters

cultivate, plant

Examples

十年树木，百年树人。

Shíniánshùmù, bǎiniánshùrén.

It takes ten years to grow a tree, a hundred to cultivate a person.

教育是百年树人的事业。

Jiàoyù shì bǎiniánshùrén de shìyè.

Education is the work of generations.

百年树人，不可急于求成。

Bǎiniánshùrén, bùkě jíyúqiúchéng.

Cultivating people takes a hundred years — you can't rush it.

Tips

history

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 — 'For one year, grow grain; for ten years, grow trees; for a lifetime, grow people.' Often cited in discussions of education policy.

Stroke Order

百 bǎi

年 nián

树 shù

人 rén