时运不济 ill fortune
Explanation
时机和命运都不好，运气差。
The timing and fate are not good, bad luck.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有个叫李白的诗人，才华横溢，却一直怀才不遇。他年轻时四处游历，渴望得到朝廷的重用，却屡屡碰壁。一次，他在扬州遇到一位老僧，老僧观其面相，叹道：“你骨骼清奇，才华过人，可惜时运不济，功名难就啊！”李白听了，心中黯然。他继续漂泊，写下许多千古名篇，却始终未能实现自己的政治抱负。直到晚年，他才被玄宗皇帝召入宫中，但好景不长，不久便因卷入政治斗争而被贬谪，最终郁郁而终。李白的一生，是才华与命运的抗争，也是一个时运不济的典型例子。他虽然才华横溢，却因为时运不济，终其一生未能完全实现自己的抱负。这让人不禁感叹命运的捉弄，也令人唏嘘不已。
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai, who was immensely talented but repeatedly faced misfortune. In his youth, he traveled extensively, hoping for recognition from the imperial court, only to encounter repeated setbacks. Once, in Yangzhou, he met an old monk who, upon observing his features, sighed, “You have a remarkable physique and exceptional talent, but alas, you lack good fortune and will struggle to achieve fame.” Li Bai was disheartened. He continued to wander, writing many immortal poems, but always failed to achieve his political aspirations. Only in his later years was he summoned to the court by Emperor Xuanzong, but this prosperity was short-lived. Soon, he was exiled for involvement in political intrigues and eventually died a frustrated man. Li Bai's life is a struggle between talent and fate, a prime example of ill fortune. Despite his prodigious talent, he never fully realized his ambitions because of the misfortune that followed him. This leads to reflection on the capriciousness of fate and a profound sense of regret.
Usage
形容运气不好，事情进展不顺利。
Describes bad luck and unfavorable developments.
Examples
-
他最近时运不济，工作上接连碰壁。
ta zuijin shi yun bu ji, gongzuo shang jielin pengbi
He has been unlucky lately, facing setbacks at work.
-
创业初期，时运不济是常有的事，要坚持下去。
chuangye chuqi, shi yun bu ji shi chang you de shi, yao jianchi xiaqu
In the early stages of a business, it's common to experience bad luck; you need to persevere.