千金一刻 qiān jīn yī kè A moment is worth a thousand gold

Explanation

形容时间非常宝贵，如同千金一样珍贵。

Describes how precious time is, as precious as a thousand pieces of gold.

Origin Story

话说古代一位勤奋的书生，为了赶考，日夜苦读。他知道时间宝贵，常说“千金一刻”，一丝一毫都不敢浪费。他每天天不亮就起床，挑灯夜战，废寝忘食，刻苦学习。终于，在这次考试中金榜题名，从此走上仕途，为国效力。这个故事说明，珍惜时间才能获得成功。

huà shuō gǔdài yī wèi qínfèn de shūshēng, wèile gǎnkǎo, rìyè kǔ dú. tā zhīdào shíjiān bǎoguì, cháng shuō “qiānjīn yīkè”, yīsī yī háo dōu bù gǎn làngfèi. tā měitiān tiān bù liàng jiù qǐchuáng, tiāodēng yè zhàn, fèi qǐn wàng shí, kèkǔ xuéxí. zhōngyú, zài zhè cì kǎoshì zhōng jīnbǎng tímíng, cóngcǐ zǒu shàng shìtú, wèi guó xiàolì. zhège gùshì shuōmíng, zhēnxī shíjiān cáinéng huòdé chénggōng.

It is said that an industrious scholar in ancient China studied day and night to prepare for the imperial examination. Knowing the value of time, he often said, "A moment is worth a thousand gold," and he dared not waste a single moment. Every day, he rose before dawn, studied by lamplight late into the night, neglecting sleep and food, studying diligently. Finally, he succeeded in the examination and became a high-ranking official, serving his country. This story shows that cherishing time leads to success.

Usage

用于形容时间宝贵，要珍惜时间。

yòng yú xiáong shíjiān bǎoguì, yào zhēnxī shíjiān

Used to describe the preciousness of time and the need to cherish it.

Examples

• 一刻千金，时间就是金钱。

  yike qiānjīn, shíjiān jiùshì qiánjīn

  A moment is worth a thousand gold. Time is money.

• 对于他来说，时间就是生命，千金一刻

  duìyú tā lái shuō, shíjiān jiùshì shēngmìng, qiānjīn yīkè

  For him, time is life, a moment is worth a thousand gold

Related Idioms

• 一寸光阴一寸金

• 时间飞逝

Opposite Idioms

• 浪费时间

• 虚度光阴