时不我与 Shí bù wǒ yǔ Time and tide wait for no man

Explanation

时间不等待我。指时机难得，要抓紧时间。

Time does not wait for me. It means that the opportunity is rare and we must seize the time.

Origin Story

话说春秋战国时期，有个名叫范蠡的越国人，他辅佐勾践灭吴后，功成名就，但他并没有沉湎于功名利禄之中。他深知“时不我与”的道理，在功成名就之后，他毅然决然地选择了急流勇退，带着他的家财和亲信，隐居于陶地，改名换姓，从事经商活动。他凭借自己的聪明才智和勤劳，很快积累了大量的财富，成为一代富商。他不仅自己富甲一方，还广施善举，为人民做了许多好事，赢得了百姓的爱戴。范蠡的故事告诉我们，在人生的道路上，要懂得把握时机，珍惜时间，不要让时间白白流逝。

huà shuō chūnqiū zhàn guó shíqī, yǒu gè míng jiào fàn lǐ de yuè guó rén, tā fǔzuò gōu jiàn miè wú hòu, gōng chéng míngjiù, dàn tā bìng méiyǒu chén miǎn yú gōngmíng lìlù zhī zhōng. tā shēn zhī "shí bù wǒ yǔ" de dàolǐ, zài gōng chéng míngjiù zhī hòu, tā yì rán jué rán de xuǎnzé le jílǐu yǒngtùi, dài zhe tā de jiā cái hé qīnxìn, yǐnjū yú táo dì, gǎi míng huàn xìng, cóngshì jīngshāng huódòng. tā píng jì zìjǐ de cōngmíng cáizhì hé qínláo, hěn kuài jīlěi le dàliàng de cáifù, chéngwéi yīdài fùshāng. tā bù jǐn zìjǐ fù jiǎ yīfāng, hái guǎng shī shànjǔ, wèi rénmín zuò le xǔduō hǎoshì, yíngdé le bǎixìng de àidài. fàn lǐ de gùshì gàosù wǒmen, zài rénshēng de dàolù shang, yào dǒngdé bǎwò shíjī, zhēnxī shíjiān, bùyào ràng shíjiān bái bái liúshì.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there was a man from the Yue kingdom named Fan Li, who assisted Gou Jian in destroying the Wu kingdom. After achieving success, he chose to retire bravely, knowing that "time waits for no man". He left his post and took his family and servants to live as a merchant, accumulating great wealth. His story reminds us to value time and seize opportunities before they pass.

Usage

常用于感叹时间短暂，要珍惜时间，抓紧机会。

cháng yòng yú gǎntán shíjiān duǎn zàn, yào zhēnxī shíjiān, zhuā jǐn jīhuì

Often used to lament the shortness of time, to cherish time, and seize opportunities.

Examples

• 机会稍纵即逝，我们必须抓住时机，时不我与！

  jīhuì shāozòng jíshì, women bìxū zhuā zhù shíjī, shí bù wǒ yǔ!

  Opportunities are fleeting, we must seize the moment, time and tide wait for no man!

• 创业时期，时不我与，必须全力以赴。

  chuàngyè shíqī, shí bù wǒ yǔ, bìxū quánlì yǐfù

  During the start-up period, time is of the essence, we must go all out.

Related Idioms

• 时不我待

• 机不可失

Opposite Idioms

• 岁月静好

• 从容不迫