# 初出茅庐

chū chū máo lú

Begin a career with little experience

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Leave the thatched cottage for the first time

**Traditional Chinese:** 初出茅廬

**Register:** Descriptive · literary

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe a novice entering practical work.

Experience is limited, not necessarily talent.

## Understanding the expression

Leaving a sheltered cottage suggests entering a larger world where knowledge must meet practical demands. Modern use describes someone at the beginning of a career, public role, or unfamiliar activity. It often carries a gentle acknowledgment of inexperience. The newcomer may still have strong ability and fresh ideas. The phrase concerns exposure to real situations, so patient guidance can be more useful than dismissing the person simply because they have not worked long.

## Examples

她初出茅庐，还需要指导。

### Traditional Chinese

她初出茅廬，還需要指導。

tā chū chū máo lú ， hái xū yào zhǐ dǎo 。

She is new to the profession and needs guidance.

初出茅庐的记者采访很认真。

### Traditional Chinese

初出茅廬的記者採訪很認真。

chū chū máo lú de jì zhě cǎi fǎng hěn rèn zhēn 。

The novice reporter interviews carefully.

他虽初出茅庐，却很有想法。

### Traditional Chinese

他雖初出茅廬，卻很有想法。

tā suī chū chū máo lú ， què hěn yǒu xiǎng fǎ 。

Though inexperienced, he has good ideas.

我初出茅庐时也犯过这种错。

### Traditional Chinese

我初出茅廬時也犯過這種錯。

wǒ chū chū máo lú shí yě fàn guò zhè zhǒng cuò 。

I made similar mistakes when starting my career.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%88%9D%E5%87%BA%E8%8C%85%E5%BB%AC)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=337&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [出口成章 chū kǒu chéng zhāng Speak fluently in well-formed language ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-kou-cheng-zhang)

- [出类拔萃 chū lèi bá cuì Stand out as exceptionally capable ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-lei-ba-cui)

- [出人头地 chū rén tóu dì Stand out through achievement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-ren-tou-di)

- [出神入化 chū shén rù huà Show consummate mastery ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-shen-ru-hua)

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