Bedeutung
Youthful learning is useful in old age.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The proverb is often linked to the 'National Revival' period, where education was seen as the key to national survival. Slovaks use an almost identical version: 'Čo sa v mladosti naučíš, v starobe akoby si našiel.' There is a shared 'guild' history where apprenticeships in youth were the only path to a stable old age. The proverb is now used to encourage 'digital literacy' among all ages, but especially the young.
The 'Se' Rule
Always remember the 'se'. Without it, you are teaching someone else, not learning yourself!
Shortening
In a conversation, you can just say 'Však víš, co se v mládí naučíš...' and nod. People will know the rest.
Bedeutung
Youthful learning is useful in old age.
The 'Se' Rule
Always remember the 'se'. Without it, you are teaching someone else, not learning yourself!
Shortening
In a conversation, you can just say 'Však víš, co se v mládí naučíš...' and nod. People will know the rest.
Don't over-modernize
Keep 'v stáří' as is. Changing it to 've stáří' is grammatically okay but ruins the proverb's rhythm.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the proverb.
Co se v ______ naučíš, v ______ jako když najdeš.
The proverb specifically contrasts 'mládí' (youth) and 'stáří' (old age).
What does the phrase 'jako když najdeš' mean in this context?
V stáří jako když najdeš znamená:
The idiom 'jako když najdeš' expresses that something is a great benefit or very useful.
Match the situation to the proverb's meaning.
Which situation best illustrates the proverb?
This shows a skill learned in youth being valuable in old age.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
Petr: 'Proč se pořád učíš ty technické věci?' Jana: 'Protože věřím, že co se v mládí...'
This is the standard, complete form of the proverb.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenCo se v ______ naučíš, v ______ jako když najdeš.
The proverb specifically contrasts 'mládí' (youth) and 'stáří' (old age).
V stáří jako když najdeš znamená:
The idiom 'jako když najdeš' expresses that something is a great benefit or very useful.
Which situation best illustrates the proverb?
This shows a skill learned in youth being valuable in old age.
Petr: 'Proč se pořád učíš ty technické věci?' Jana: 'Protože věřím, že co se v mládí...'
This is the standard, complete form of the proverb.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, very much so! It's one of the most common proverbs in the Czech language.
It's an archaic form preserved for the rhythm of the proverb.
Technically no, it implies a positive 'finding' or benefit.
Only if you are discussing skills or training in a friendly way. Otherwise, it might sound like you're calling them old!
It means something is as welcome as finding money or a treasure unexpectedly.
Yes: 'Co se v mládí naučíš...'
It's neutral-to-formal. It's 'frozen' wisdom.
Not perfectly, but it has a strong 6-6 syllable rhythm.
Absolutely, it's very common for physical skills.
'Starého psa novým kouskům nenaučíš' is the most common opposite.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Opakování je matka moudrosti
similarRepetition is the mother of wisdom.
Starého psa novým kouskům nenaučíš
contrastYou can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Žádný učený z nebe nespadl
builds onNo learned man ever fell from the sky.
Mladí ležáci, staří žebráci
contrastYoung idlers, old beggars.
