諺語 · a single proverb
大器晚成
What does 大器晚成 (dà qì wǎn chéng) mean?
大器晚成 (dà qì wǎn chéng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "great vessel forms late." In use it means: The greatest achievements take time to develop; late bloomers often surpass those who peak early. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Ox.
Literally: "great vessel forms late."
The reading
The tree that will hold the most weight grew the slowest. The person who looked like they were falling behind was simply growing roots the others skipped. There is no early arrival for what is meant to last.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Tao Te Ching 道德經, ch. 41 (Laozi); popularized in Han dynasty usage
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Perseverance & the Long Road, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Tiger.
Questions
Is 大器晚成 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 大器晚成 (dà qì wǎn chéng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Tao Te Ching 道德經, ch. 41 (Laozi); popularized in Han dynasty usage. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 大器晚成?
In Mandarin it is dà qì wǎn chéng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 大器晚成 aloud in Mandarin.