生不逢时 Born at the wrong time
Explanation
生不逢时，指的是一个人出生在不好的时代，没有机会发挥自己的才能。这是一种对命运的感叹，也体现了人们对美好时代的渴望。
This expression expresses the sadness of being born in an unfavorable time, without the opportunity to unfold one's abilities.
Origin Story
战国时期，有个名叫李牧的将军，他精通兵法，战功赫赫，却一直不被重用。他生不逢时，生在一个战乱不断的时代，他的才能无法得到施展。直到秦国统一六国，李牧才被秦始皇重用，但此时他已经年老体弱，无法再为国家效力。李牧感叹自己生不逢时，最终含恨而终。
During the Warring States period in China, there was a general named Li Mu. He was a brilliant military strategist who achieved great successes. But he never found recognition and was not employed. He was born into a time of war and his skills remained unused. Only after the unification of the six states by Qin Shi Huang was Li Mu employed by him, but he was already old and weak and could no longer serve the country. Li Mu regretted being born at the wrong time and eventually died full of resentment.
Usage
这个成语常用来表达一种怀才不遇的感叹，或者用来描述一个人在不适合的时机做了一些事情。
This idiom is often used to express a feeling of being underappreciated, or to describe someone doing something at an inopportune time.
Examples
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他感叹自己生不逢时，没有赶上那个伟大的时代。
tā gǎn tàn zì jǐ shēng bù féng shí, méi yǒu gǎn shàng nà ge wěi dà de shí dài.
He sighed that he was born at the wrong time, that he did not catch that great era.
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在这个竞争激烈的社会，很多人都感到生不逢时，难以施展才华。
zài zhè ge jìng zhēng jī liè de shè huì, hěn duō rén dōu gǎn dào shēng bù féng shí, nán yǐ shī zhǎn cái huá.
In this competitive society, many people feel that they are born at the wrong time, and it is difficult to display their talents.