Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
成材
chéngcái
Description
"成材"意思是长成有用的木材，也常常用来说一个人长大后变成有用的人。
"成材" means growing into useful timber, and is also often used to say that a person has grown up to be useful.
父母说孩子的时候，常用这个词。
Parents often use this word when talking about their children.
Meanings
成材chéngcái
to grow into a useful person
他很努力，长大以后一定能成材。
He works hard and will definitely succeed when he grows up.
成材chéngcái
to grow into usable timber
这些树十年后才能成材。
These trees will only be ready for use in ten years.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
成 (become) + 材 (timber/talent); literally "to become timber," then extended to people.
- Nuance
成材 stresses timber origin; 成才 is preferred for a person becoming talented.
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