大器晩成(たいきばんせい)

たいきばんせい
noun, expression
great talents mature late
1. great talents mature late
A four-character idiom meaning that truly great people take time to develop their abilities and achieve success later in life.
彼(かれ)は大器晩成(たいきばんせい)タイプだ。
He's the type whose talents mature late.
大器晩成(たいきばんせい)というから、焦(あせ)らなくていい。
As the saying goes, great talents mature late, so there's no need to rush.
息子(むすこ)は大器晩成(たいきばんせい)だと信(しん)じている。
I believe my son is a late bloomer who will achieve great things.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご))

LITERAL MEANING: 大器(たいき) (great vessel/capacity) + 晩成(ばんせい) (late completion) = A great vessel takes a long time to complete.

ORIGIN: From the Chinese classic 《老子(ろうし)》 (Laozi/Tao Te Ching). The original meaning suggests that the greatest things cannot be rushed.

USAGE: Used to encourage patience in someone who hasn't achieved success yet, or to describe someone who found success later in life. Can be used as a noun or with タイプ to describe someone.

ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS:

  • Late bloomer
  • Great oaks from little acorns grow
  • Rome wasn't built in a day

NUANCE: Often used as encouragement for young people who haven't yet found their path, or consolation for those who feel they are behind their peers.

general
Added 2026.1.17 20:35 · Revised 2026.7.2 18:21
06000/06375_taikibansei