出息 chūxi future prospects
future prospects; profit; to mature; to grow up
How to remember 出息: 出 go out + 息 breath = future prospects.
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How it is used
- 'Promise / future prospects; to amount to something' - 这孩子有出息 (zhè háizi yǒu chūxi) this kid has a bright future / will make something of himself.
- Note toneless 息. Colloquial and evaluative; 没出息 (méi chūxi) is a stinging put-down meaning 'good-for-nothing, spineless'.