chūxi: 出息 - To have promise, To be successful

• Keywords: chuxi, chu xi, 出息, meaning of chuxi, what does chuxi mean, have a future, Chinese word for promise, Chinese word for success, Chinese parenting, 没出息, mei chuxi, 有出息, you chuxi, filial piety.
• Summary: Discover the deep cultural meaning of 出息 (chūxi), a fundamental Chinese term that goes beyond simple “success.” Learn why it's a key concept in Chinese parenting, referring to a person's potential to achieve a respectable status, make something of themselves, and bring honor to their family. This guide breaks down how 出息 (chūxi) is used in daily conversation, from high praise to sharp criticism, and explores its connection to core cultural values.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūxi
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To have promising prospects for success; to be accomplished in a way that brings pride.
• In a Nutshell: 出息 (chūxi) isn't just about being successful; it's about becoming a person of worth and accomplishment in the eyes of one's family and society. It's a judgment of a person's character, potential, and achievements combined. It's often used by elders (like parents or grandparents) to express hope for, or disappointment in, a younger person's development. Having 出息 means you're on the right track to a stable, respectable life that makes your family proud. The opposite, 没出息 (méi chūxi), is a powerful criticism, meaning “worthless” or “unpromising.”

• 出 (chū): To go out, to emerge, to produce, or to come forth. Think of a plant sprouting from the ground.
• 息 (xī): In ancient contexts, this character meant “breath” or “to grow.” It's also related to “interest” (like on a loan), implying a kind of gain or increase.
• Combined Meaning: The characters combine to create a vivid image: “to grow forth” or “to produce a gain.” It signifies a person emerging from childhood and developing into someone with tangible, positive results—like a good career, social status, and the ability to support a family. It's about personal growth that yields a “return on investment” for the family and society.

出息 (chūxi) is deeply embedded in the collective and hierarchical nature of Chinese culture. It's a concept that directly ties an individual's success to their family's honor. In many Western cultures, success is often framed as an individualistic pursuit of personal passion or happiness (“Follow your dreams!”). While this is valued, 出息 places a much stronger emphasis on fulfilling social and familial expectations. The “dream” is often a collective one, where the individual's achievement in a stable, well-regarded profession (like being a doctor, engineer, or civil servant) directly contributes to the family's social standing, or 面子 (miànzi). This concept is a cornerstone of Chinese parenting. From a young age, children are often encouraged to study hard so they can “将来有出息” (jiānglái yǒu chūxi) – have a promising future. This isn't just about the child's well-being but also about fulfilling their duty of 孝 (xiào), or filial piety. By becoming successful, a child repays the parents for their upbringing and brings them honor, a concept known as 光宗耀祖 (guāng zōng yào zǔ) - bringing glory to the ancestors. Therefore, someone who quits a stable job to become, for example, a street artist might be seen as pursuing personal fulfillment in the West. However, from a traditional Chinese perspective, they might be criticized as being 没出息 (méi chūxi) because their path lacks stability and clear societal prestige, regardless of their personal happiness.

出息 (chūxi) is a high-frequency word used in everyday conversation, especially within the family. Its connotation depends heavily on the context.

• As Praise (Positive): When someone gets a great job, receives an academic award, or demonstrates maturity and responsibility, an elder might say, “这孩子真有出息!” (This child is really promising/accomplished!). It’s a significant compliment that acknowledges not just the achievement but the person's character and bright future.
• As Criticism (Negative): The negative form, 没出息 (méi chūxi), is a very common and sharp criticism. It's often used by parents towards children who are lazy, waste time on video games, or make irresponsible choices. Saying “你真没出息!” (You're so worthless/unpromising!) is a way to express deep disappointment in their behavior and perceived lack of ambition.
• As a Verb: It can also be used as a verb, meaning “to become accomplished.” For example: “他长大了, 肯定能出息。” (When he grows up, he will definitely make something of himself.)

• Example 1:
  • 父母都希望自己的孩子将来能有出息。
  • Pīnyīn: Fùmǔ dōu xīwàng zìjǐ de háizi jiānglái néng yǒu chūxi.
  • English: All parents hope their children will have a promising future.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the core cultural expectation. 有出息 (yǒu chūxi) is presented as the ultimate parental hope for a child.
• Example 2:
  • 你一天到晚就知道玩游戏，太没出息了！
  • Pīnyīn: Nǐ yì tiān dào wǎn jiù zhīdào wán yóuxì, tài méi chūxi le!
  • English: You just play video games from morning till night, you're so worthless!
  • Analysis: A classic example of a parent scolding a child. 没出息 (méi chūxi) is used here to criticize a lack of ambition and focus on what are perceived as unproductive activities.
• Example 3:
  • 他年纪轻轻就当上了公司经理，真有出息。
  • Pīnyīn: Tā niánjì qīngqīng jiù dāng shàng le gōngsī jīnglǐ, zhēn yǒu chūxi.
  • English: He became the company manager at such a young age, he's really accomplished.
  • Analysis: This shows 出息 used as praise for a tangible career achievement that reflects well on the person.
• Example 4:
  • 奶奶总是说，只要我好好学习，将来一定能出息。
  • Pīnyīn: Nǎinai zǒngshì shuō, zhǐyào wǒ hǎohǎo xuéxí, jiānglái yídìng néng chūxi.
  • English: Grandma always says that as long as I study hard, I will definitely make something of myself in the future.
  • Analysis: Here, 出息 is used as a verb (“to become promising/successful”). It connects hard work (studying) directly to future success.
• Example 5:
  • 跟他哥哥比，他显得太没出息了。
  • Pīnyīn: Gēn tā gēge bǐ, tā xiǎnde tài méi chūxi le.
  • English: Compared to his older brother, he seems so unpromising.
  • Analysis: This highlights the comparative nature of 出息. It's often a judgment made by comparing one person to another, especially siblings.
• Example 6:
  • 别看他现在很穷，我觉得他这个人将来肯定有出息。
  • Pīnyīn: Bié kàn tā xiànzài hěn qióng, wǒ juéde tā zhège rén jiānglái kěndìng yǒu chūxi.
  • English: Don't just look at how poor he is now; I feel he's the kind of person who will definitely be successful in the future.
  • Analysis: This shows that 出息 can refer to potential and character, not just current status. It implies seeing ambition and good qualities in someone.
• Example 7:
  • 为了孩子能出息，他什么苦都愿意吃。
  • Pīnyīn: Wèile háizi néng chūxi, tā shénme kǔ dōu yuànyì chī.
  • English: For the sake of his child becoming successful, he is willing to endure any hardship.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the sacrifice parents are willing to make for their child's future 出息. The child's success is a family project.
• Example 8:
  • A: 我儿子辞掉了稳定的工作去追求音乐梦想。
  • B: 唉，现在的年轻人，真不知道什么才叫出息。
  • Pīnyīn: A: Wǒ érzi cídiào le wěndìng de gōngzuò qù zhuīqiú yīnyuè mèngxiǎng. B: Āi, xiànzài de niánqīngrén, zhēn bù zhīdào shénme cái jiào chūxi.
  • English: A: My son quit his stable job to pursue his dream of music. B: Sigh, young people these days really don't know what it means to be successful.
  • Analysis: This dialogue illustrates the cultural clash between traditional definitions of 出息 (stability, prestige) and modern ideas of personal fulfillment.
• Example 9:
  • 一个人有没有出息，不应该只用钱来衡量。
  • Pīnyīn: Yí ge rén yǒu méiyǒu chūxi, bù yīnggāi zhǐ yòng qián lái héngliáng.
  • English: Whether a person has promise or not shouldn't be measured only by money.
  • Analysis: This sentence offers a more modern, reflective take on the term, challenging the traditional, materialistic definition of 出息.
• Example 10:
  • 他这么做，总算有点出息了。
  • Pīnyīn: Tā zhème zuò, zǒngsuàn yǒudiǎn chūxi le.
  • English: By doing this, he's finally showing a bit of promise.
  • Analysis: This implies a positive change. The person was likely considered 没出息 before, but their recent actions have started to change that perception.

• `出息` vs. `成功` (chénggōng) - “Success”: This is the most important distinction.
  • 成功 (chénggōng) is a neutral term for “success” or “to succeed.” It describes a result. You can succeed in a game, in an experiment, or in business.
  • 出息 is about a person's entire trajectory and their worth in a social/familial context. It's about *becoming* a successful person, not just achieving a single success. A gangster could be very 成功 at crime, but no one would ever say he has 出息. An artist might feel her exhibition was a 成功, but her parents might still think she's 没出息 for not having a 9-to-5 job.
• Common Mistake: Applying it to objects or projects.
  • You can't say a project or a company has 出息. This term is reserved for the development of people.
  • Incorrect: ~~这个项目很有出息。~~ (This project is very promising.)
  • Correct: 这个项目很有前途。(This project has a great future/prospects.)
• Common Mistake: Using it for yourself.
  • It's very rare and can sound arrogant to say “我很有出息” (I am very promising/accomplished). It's a judgment typically made by others, especially those senior to you. You might say it sarcastically or self-deprecatingly, but not as a serious self-assessment.

• 没出息 (méi chūxi) - The direct antonym: worthless, unpromising, good-for-nothing.
• 有出息 (yǒu chūxi) - The common positive form: promising, accomplished, having a bright future.
• 成功 (chénggōng) - Success; to succeed. The result or state, whereas `chūxi` is the potential and the socially-approved process of becoming.
• 成才 (chéng cái) - To become a person of talent/ability. Very similar to `出息`, but slightly more formal and focuses on talent/ability rather than social status.
• 前途 (qiántú) - Future, prospects. Having `出息` implies you have a good `前途`.
• 出人头地 (chū rén tóu dì) - An idiom meaning “to stand out from the crowd” or “to become eminent.” This is a very high level of achievement, a clear sign of having `出息`.
• 光宗耀祖 (guāng zōng yào zǔ) - An idiom meaning “to bring glory to one's ancestors.” This is the ultimate cultural goal that having `出息` is meant to achieve.
• 有作为 (yǒu zuòwéi) - To be promising and accomplish things; to have achievements. Similar to `有出息` but can be used more broadly for people who are already established.
• 孝 (xiào) - Filial piety. The cultural value that underpins the pressure for a child to have `出息` to honor their parents.