📖 Meaning
This idiom refers to young people or the younger generation, especially juniors in age or status. It carries a tone often used by elders when speaking about or addressing the youth.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Song dynasty work 'Chuijian Silu' (吹剑四录) by Yu Wenbao, who worried that decades later the old and experienced would pass away, and the younger generation would not know the roots of things. Through what they see and hear, their views would change and eventually revert. The expression has since been used to refer to young juniors.
💡 Example Usage
老先生语重心长地告诫后生小子要勤勉读书，莫负韶华。
The old man earnestly exhorted the young juniors to study diligently and not waste their youth.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 后生小子
- Pinyin: hòu shēng xiǎo zǐ
- Literal Translation: after, born, small, son
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4