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后起之秀 (hòu qǐ zhī xiù) — up-and-coming talent, rising star (of the younger generation)

Definition

A set phrase for a 'rising star' — a promising young person who has emerged later but already shows outstanding talent. Always used to praise someone's potential, never for veterans.

noun
up-and-coming talentrising star (of the younger generation)

Examples

  • 后起之秀。
    Zhè wèi nián qīng de kē xué jiā shì kē jì jiè de hòu qǐ zhī xiù.
    This young scientist is an up-and-coming talent in the tech world.
  • 后起之秀，。
    Tā suī rán shì hòu qǐ zhī xiù, dàn yǐ jīng chāo yuè le gōng sī lǐ bù shǎo lǎo yuán gōng.
    Although she is a rising star, she has already surpassed quite a few veteran employees in the company.
  • 后起之秀。
    Zài zhè jiè bǐ sài zhōng yǒng xiàn le xǔ duō hòu qǐ zhī xiù.
    Many up-and-coming talents emerged in this competition.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

秀 pairs 禾 (rice plant) with 引 (to draw out flowers), showing a rice plant putting out flowers.

Open 秀 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPeople (General)

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