Czego się Jasio nie nauczył, Jan się nie nauczy
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What it means
What little Jasio did not learn, Jan will not learn either , skills and habits not acquired in childhood are very hard to pick up as an adult.
English equivalent
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Vocabulary
- Jasio — little Johnny (diminutive of Jan)
- nauczyć się — to learn
- Jan — John (adult form)
Grammar note
'Czego' is the genitive of 'co', used after negation , 'what (he) did not learn'.
Cultural context
Part of the Jasio/Jan proverb family emphasising early childhood education.
Intermediate
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