# 后生可畏

hòu shēng kě wèi

Young people may achieve formidable things

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Those born later deserve respect

**Traditional Chinese:** 後生可畏

**Register:** Positive · literary

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

## When to use it

Praise promising younger people and future potential.

Here 可畏 expresses respect for the abilities of a younger generation.

## Understanding the expression

The expression asks older people to recognize that younger people have time and ability to develop beyond them. It commonly praises an impressive student, colleague, or newcomer. The respect concerns potential as well as present achievement. It can serve as generous acknowledgment rather than anxiety about replacement. The phrase does not claim that every younger person is automatically more capable; the sentence normally supplies some concrete sign of promise.

## Examples

她首次比赛就夺冠，真是后生可畏。

### Traditional Chinese

她首次比賽就奪冠，真是後生可畏。

tā shǒu cì bǐ sài jiù duó guàn ， zhēn shì hòu shēng kě wèi 。

Winning her first competition shows impressive young talent.

新人解决了老问题，让人感叹后生可畏。

### Traditional Chinese

新人解決了老問題，讓人感嘆後生可畏。

xīn rén jiě jué le lǎo wèn tí ， ràng rén gǎn tàn hòu shēng kě wèi 。

The newcomer solved an old problem and impressed everyone.

老师看完作品，笑说后生可畏。

### Traditional Chinese

老師看完作品，笑說後生可畏。

lǎo shī kàn wán zuò pǐn ， xiào shuō hòu shēng kě wèi 。

The teacher admired the work and praised the young talent.

这群学生创意十足，后生可畏。

### Traditional Chinese

這群學生創意十足，後生可畏。

zhè qún xué shēng chuàng yì shí zú ， hòu shēng kě wèi 。

These creative students have formidable potential.

## 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%BE%8C%E7%94%9F%E5%8F%AF%E7%95%8F)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=465&webMd=1&la=0)

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