时不再来 shí bù zài lái Time does not come again

Explanation

时：时机。时机错过就不会再来了。指行事不要放过时机。

Time: opportunity. If the opportunity is missed, it will never come again. It means that one should not miss the opportunity in action.

Origin Story

从前，有个勤劳的农民，他辛勤耕耘，盼望着丰收。这年春天，雨水充沛，庄稼长得格外茂盛。农民欣喜若狂，他知道，今年一定会获得一个大丰收。可是，到了秋天，一场突如其来的暴风雨，摧毁了他所有的希望。他看着被暴风雨摧毁的庄稼，痛哭流涕。他知道，他的努力都付诸东流了。这时，一位智者走过来说："孩子，不要悲伤。虽然这场暴风雨毁掉了你的庄稼，但是这并不能代表你所有的努力都白费了。你看，这片土地依然肥沃，明年春天，你还可以继续耕耘，你依然有机会收获满满。记住，时不再来，你要珍惜每一分每一秒，好好地努力。"农民听后，擦干眼泪，重新燃起了希望。他开始收拾残局，为明年的播种做准备。他明白了智者的教诲：时不再来，要珍惜现在，把握未来。

cóng qián, yǒu gè qínláo de nóngmín, tā xīnqín gēngyún, pànwàngzhe fēngshōu. zhè nián chūntiān, yǔshuǐ chōngpèi, zhuāngjia zhǎng de géwài màoshèng. nóngmín xīnxǐ kuángkuáng, tā zhīdào, jīnnián yīdìng huì huòdé yīgè dà fēngshōu. kěshì, dàole qiūtiān, yī cháng tūrú'ér lái de bàofēngyǔ, cuīhuǐ le tā suǒyǒu de xīwàng. tā kànzhe bèi bàofēngyǔ cuīhuǐ de zhuāngjia, tòngkū liùtì. tā zhīdào, tā de nǔlì dōu fùzhū dōngliú le. zhèshí, yī wèi zhìzhě zǒuguò lái shuō: 'háizi, bùyào bēishāng. suīrán zhè chǎng bàofēngyǔ huǐdiào le nǐ de zhuāngjia, dànshì zhè bìng bù néng dài biǎo nǐ suǒyǒu de nǔlì dōu báifèi le. nǐ kàn, zhè piàn tǔdì yīrán féiwò, míngnián chūntiān, nǐ hái kěyǐ jìxù gēngyún, nǐ yīrán yǒu jīhuì shōuhuò mǎnmǎn. jì zhù, shí bù zài lái, nǐ yào zhēnxī měi yī fēn měi yī miǎo, hǎohǎo de nǔlì.' nóngmín tīng hòu, cā gān yǎnlèi, chóngxīn ránqǐ le xīwàng. tā kāishǐ shōushi cángjú, wèi míngnián de bōzhǒng zuò zhǔnbèi. tā línghuì le zhìzhě de jiàohuì: shí bù zài lái, yào zhēnxī xiànzài, bǎwò wèilái.

Once upon a time, there was a diligent farmer who worked hard and looked forward to a bountiful harvest. This spring, there was plenty of rain, and the crops grew exceptionally well. The farmer was overjoyed, knowing that he would have a bumper harvest this year. However, in the autumn, a sudden violent storm destroyed all his hopes. He looked at the crops destroyed by the storm and wept bitterly. He knew that all his efforts had been in vain. At this time, a wise man passed by and said: "Child, don't be sad. Although this storm destroyed your crops, it doesn't mean that all your efforts were wasted. Look, this land is still fertile, next spring you can continue to cultivate, you still have a chance to harvest a lot. Remember, time doesn't come again, you must cherish every minute and every second, and work hard." After listening, the farmer wiped away his tears and rekindled his hope. He began to clean up the mess and prepare for next year's sowing. He understood the wise man's teachings: Time doesn't come again, we must cherish the present and grasp the future.

Usage

用于劝诫人们要珍惜时间，抓住机会。

yòng yú quànjiè rénmen yào zhēnxī shíjiān, zhuā zhù jīhuì

Used to admonish people to cherish time and seize opportunities.

Examples

• 机会稍纵即逝，时不再来，我们必须抓住这次机会。

  jīhuì shāozòng jíshì, shí bù zài lái, wǒmen bìxū zhuā zhù zhè cì jīhuì.

  Opportunities are fleeting, time doesn't come again, we must seize this opportunity.

• 创业的黄金时期是时不再来，应该努力拼搏。

  chuàngyè de huángjīn shíqī shì shí bù zài lái, yīnggāi nǔlì pīnbó

  The golden age of entrepreneurship is irretrievable, we should strive and fight hard.

Related Idioms

• 机不可失

• 时不我待

Opposite Idioms

• 错过时机

• 犹豫不决