# 乳臭未干

rǔ xiù wèi gān

Be young and inexperienced

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The smell of milk has not dried away

**Traditional Chinese:** 乳臭未乾

**Register:** Insulting · conversational

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Recognize a dismissive description of immaturity.

Insulting; age alone does not prove incompetence.

## Understanding the expression

The image pushes a young person back toward infancy, suggesting they have not yet grown enough to understand adult matters. Modern use is usually scornful and can dismiss someone's opinion without engaging it. It may appear in fiction or heated speech. Learners should recognize the insult rather than use it as a neutral age description. Specific lack of experience is more fairly discussed through evidence than through a humiliating label based on youth.

## Examples

他被嘲笑乳臭未干，却做出了成果。

### Traditional Chinese

他被嘲笑乳臭未乾，卻做出了成果。

tā bèi cháo xiào rǔ xiù wèi gān ， què zuò chū le chéng guǒ 。

He was mocked as immature but achieved results.

别说新人乳臭未干。

### Traditional Chinese

別說新人乳臭未乾。

bié shuō xīn rén rǔ xiù wèi gān 。

Do not dismiss the newcomer as immature.

小说里的老人骂对手乳臭未干。

### Traditional Chinese

小說裡的老人罵對手乳臭未乾。

xiǎo shuō lǐ de lǎo rén mà duì shǒu rǔ xiù wèi gān 。

The older man in the novel calls his opponent immature.

她不接受乳臭未干这样的羞辱。

### Traditional Chinese

她不接受乳臭未乾這樣的羞辱。

tā bù jiē shòu rǔ xiù wèi gān zhè yàng de xiū rǔ 。

She refuses to accept that insulting label of immaturity.

## 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=%E4%B9%B3%E8%87%AD%E6%9C%AA%E4%B9%BE)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=258&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [三从四德 sān cóng sì dé Traditional rules imposing obedience and prescribed virtues on women ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-cong-si-de)

- [三姑六婆 sān gū liù pó A disparaging label for gossiping or meddlesome women ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-gu-liu-po)

- [三顾茅庐 sān gù máo lú Make repeated sincere invitations ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-gu-mao-lu)

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