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长大成人 (zhǎng dà chéng rén) — to grow up and become a mature adult

Definition

A set phrase meaning to grow up into a mature adult, emphasizing the transition from child to responsible adult (both age and maturity). Synonymous in meaning with 成长, but 长大成人 focuses specifically on reaching adulthood.

verb
to grow up and become a mature adult

Examples

  • ，长大成人。
    Jīng guò duō nián de nǔ lì, tā zhōng yú zhǎng dà chéng rén le.
    After years of effort, he finally grew up to become an adult.
  • ，长大成人，。
    Duì hái zi lái shuō, zhǎng dà chéng rén bù jǐn shì nián líng de zēng zhǎng, gèng shì xīn zhì de chéng shú.
    For children, growing up is not only an increase in age but also a maturation of the mind.
  • 长大成人，。
    Fù mǔ zuì dà de yuàn wàng jiù shì kàn dào hái zi zhǎng dà chéng rén, dú lì shēng huó.
    The biggest wish of parents is to see their children grow up and live independently.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →
Appears in
Life Stages & Age

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