Chinese idiom · 成语
少不更事
Meaning
Young and inexperienced; naive due to youth.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountThe Jinshu (晉書), volume 69, gives the background in Zhou Yi’s biography. When Wang Dun takes up arms against the court, Wen Jiao suggests that the general may have a particular grievance and might not act indiscriminately. Zhou Yi replies that Wen is young and has not experienced enough affairs. Even an imperfect ruler, he argues, should not be threatened by an armed minister; Wang Dun’s conduct is rebellion.
The source says 少年未更事, which later usage compresses into the idiom. 更 here means to experience, and 少 is pronounced shào, meaning young. It describes limited experience associated with youth, rather than a permanent inability to understand the world.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
当年我少不更事，别人夸几句就轻易答应帮忙。
I was young and inexperienced then; a little flattery was enough to make me agree to help.
Often used reflectively about one's younger self; directed at another person, it may sound condescending.