少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲

Traditional form:

少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲

Pinyin (reading):

shàozhuàngbùnǔlì,lǎodàtúshāngbēi

Definitions:

• if you are lazy in your prime, you'll be sorry in your old age

Characters:

• 少 - few, little; less; inadequate
• 壮 - big, large; robust, strong; the name of a tribe
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 努 - to exert, to strive, to make an effort; to pout
• 力 - strength, power; capability, influence
• 老 - old, aged; experienced
• 大 - big, great, vast, high, deep
• 徒 - disciple, follower; only, merely; in vain
• 伤 - to injure, to harm; wound, injury; to fall ill
• 悲 - sorrow, sadness, grief; to be sorry

Traditional characters:

• 少 - few, little; less; inadequate
• 壯 - big, large; robust, strong; the name of a tribe
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 努 - to exert, to strive, to make an effort; to pout
• 力 - strength, power; capability, influence
• 老 - old, aged; experienced
• 大 - big, great, vast, high, deep
• 徒 - disciple, follower; only, merely; in vain
• 傷 - to injure, to harm; wound, injury; to fall ill
• 悲 - sorrow, sadness, grief; to be sorry