少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲
有人译成 If you neglect study when you are young, what may happento your old age?
这句问句会把老外问得云里雾里,因为他们沒有"学而优则仕"的思想,也不认为功课差,将来就会伤悲.他们劝告子女经常说的是Studying / working hard can lead you to a brighter / morepromising future. (努力用功会带给你光明的前程.)
当然也可以对年轻人说:
Study hard when you are young. It willpay off when you get older. (年轻时好好努力,到老的时就会觉得学有所值.)