百年树人

百年樹人

bǎiniánshùrén

(idiom) it takes many years to raise children to be upstanding citizens

short for 十年樹木，百年樹人／十年树木，百年树人 (shínián shùmù, bǎinián shùrén, “it takes a long time for good education to bear fruit (i.e. to produce a competent person)”)

Wiktionary

语本《管子．权修》：「一年之计，莫如树穀；十年之计，莫如树木；终身之计，莫如树人。一树一穫者，穀也；一树十穫者，木也；一树百穫者，人也。」形容培育人才的不容易。

重編國語辭典

形容培育人才的不容易

維基詞典

Entry Composition

百年

bǎinián

hundred years
century
lifetime

树人

shùrén

to prepare children to become capable citizens

Containing this entry

十年树木，百年树人

shíniánshùmù,bǎiniánshùrén

(idiom) it takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to cultivate people