become a talented/useful person; grow into useful timber
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to become a talented person; to grow into a useful person
Used literally for wood/trees growing into usable timber, or metaphorically for a person's development. The metaphor is very common.
Shù树
yào要
xiū修
jiǎn剪
cái才
néng能
zhǎng长
de得
zhí直
，
hái孩
zi子
bù不
jiào教
yù育
zěn怎
néng能
chéng成
cái才
ne呢
？
Trees need pruning to grow straight; how can a child become a useful person without education?
Fù父
mǔ母
dōu都
xī希
wàng望
zì自
jǐ己
de的
hái孩
zi子
néng能
zǎo早
rì日
chéng成
cái才
。
All parents hope their children can become successful early.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhè这
kuài块
mù木
tou头
zhì质
dì地
hǎo好
，
jiāng将
lái来
yī一
dìng定
néng能
chéng成
cái才
。
This piece of wood has good quality; it will surely grow into useful timber in the future.
Tā她
tiān天
zī资
cōng聪
yǐng颖
，
yòu又
kěn肯
nǔ努
lì力
，
jiāng将
lái来
bì必
chéng成
dà大
qì器
zhī之
cái才
。
She is naturally intelligent and hardworking; she is sure to become a person of great ability.