小时了了，大未必佳

Traditional form:

小時了了，大未必佳

Pinyin (reading):

xiǎoshíliǎoliǎo,dàwèibìjiā

Definitions:

• being bright at an early age does not necessarily bring success upon growing up (proverb)

Characters:

• 小 - small, tiny, insignificant
• 时 - time, season; period, era, age
• 了 - clear; to finish; particle of completed action
• 了 - clear; to finish; particle of completed action
• 大 - big, great, vast, high, deep
• 未 - not yet; 8th terrestrial branch
• 必 - surely, certainly; must; will
• 佳 - good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful

Traditional characters:

• 小 - small, tiny, insignificant
• 時 - time, season; period, era, age
• 了 - clear; to finish; particle of completed action
• 了 - clear; to finish; particle of completed action
• 大 - big, great, vast, high, deep
• 未 - not yet; 8th terrestrial branch
• 必 - surely, certainly; must; will
• 佳 - good, auspicious; beautiful; delightful