似水流年 sì shuǐ liú nián Time flies like water

Explanation

比喻时光飞逝。

A metaphor for the fleeting years.

Origin Story

老渔夫张三，一辈子生活在海边，看着潮起潮落，看着日出日落，他深知似水流年的道理。年少时，他意气风发，梦想扬帆远航，探索未知的海洋。可是，岁月如梭，他渐渐老了，青春的梦想也逐渐消退，取而代之的是对平静生活的向往。如今，他每天仍然出海打渔，但不再追求远方，只求平安归来，陪伴家人。他看着海面上波光粼粼，听着海风轻吟，心中充满了对往昔岁月的回忆，以及对未来生活的期许。他明白，似水流年，无法挽留，但可以珍惜当下，让有限的生命充满意义。他坐在岸边，看着夕阳缓缓落下，心中平静而满足。

lǎo yúfū zhāng sān, yībèizi shēnghuó zài hǎibiān, kànzhe cháo qǐ cháo luò, kànzhe rì chū rì luò, tā shēnzhī sì shuǐ liú nián de dàolǐ. niánshào shí, tā yìqì fēngfā, mèngxiǎng yángfān yuǎn háng, tàn suǒ wèizhī de hǎiyáng. kěshì, suìyuè rú suō, tā jiànjiàn lǎole, qīngchūn de mèngxiǎng yě zhújiàn xiāotùi, qǔ'érzhī de shì duì píngjìng shēnghuó de xiàngwǎng. rújīn, tā měitiān réngrán chū hǎi dǎ yú, dàn bù zài zhuīqiú yuǎnfāng, zhǐ qiú píng'ān guīlái, péibàn jiārén. tā kànzhe hǎimiàn shàng bōguāng línlín, tīngzhe hǎifēng qīngyín, xīnzōng chōngmǎn le duì wǎngxī suìyuè de huíyì, yǐjí duì wèilái shēnghuó de qīxǔ. tā míngbái, sì shuǐ liú nián, wúfǎ wǎnliú, dàn kěyǐ zhēnxī dāngxià, ràng yǒuxiàn de shēngmìng chōngmǎn yìyì. tā zuò zài ànbiān, kànzhe xīyáng huǎnhuan luòxià, xīnzōng píngjìng ér mǎnzú.

Old fisherman Zhang San lived by the sea his whole life, watching the tides ebb and flow, the sun rise and set. He deeply understands that time flies like flowing water. In his youth, he was full of vigor, dreaming of setting sail on a distant voyage, exploring the unknown ocean. But time flies, and he gradually grew old, and his youthful dreams gradually faded, replaced by a yearning for a peaceful life. Now, he still goes to sea every day to fish, but no longer pursues the distance, only seeks to return safely and accompany his family. He looks at the sparkling water on the sea and listens to the gentle singing of the sea breeze. His heart is filled with memories of the past years and expectations for the future life. He understands that time flies like water and cannot be retained, but he can cherish the present and make his finite life meaningful. He sits by the shore, watching the sunset slowly set, his heart calm and content.

Usage

多用于描写时间流逝之快，也可表达一种感伤的情绪。

duō yòng yú miáoxiě shíjiān liúshì zhī kuài, yě kě biǎodá yī zhǒng gǎnshāng de qíngxù

Often used to describe how quickly time passes, it can also express a sentimental mood.

Examples

• 似水流年，转眼间我已经步入中年。

  sì shuǐ liú nián, zhuǎnyǎn jiān wǒ yǐjīng bùrù zhōngnián.

  Like water flowing years, I've entered middle age in the blink of an eye.

• 人生如梦，似水流年，转瞬即逝。

  rénshēng rú mèng, sì shuǐ liú nián, zhuǎnshùn jíshì

  Life is like a dream, time flies like flowing water, fleeting in the blink of an eye.

Related Idioms

• 光阴似箭

• 日月如梭

Opposite Idioms

• 度日如年