百年不遇 bǎi nián bù yù once in a hundred years

Explanation

一百年也碰不到一次。形容很少见到过或少有的机会。

An event that occurs once in a hundred years. It describes very rare opportunities or occasions.

Origin Story

传说在古代，有一个小村庄，村里住着一位老先生，他一生都在寻找一种珍贵的草药。他翻山越岭，走遍了周围的山川河流，却始终没有找到。村民们都劝他放弃，说这种草药百年不遇，根本不可能找到。老先生却始终没有放弃，他相信总有一天会找到它。终于，在老先生九十多岁的时候，他在一个无人问津的深山里找到了这种草药。村民们都为他的坚持不懈所感动，纷纷称赞他是“百年不遇”的奇人。

chuán shuō zài gǔ dài, yǒu yī ge xiǎo cūn zhuāng, cūn lǐ zhù zhe yī wèi lǎo xiān shēng, tā yī shēng dōu zài xún zhǎo yī zhǒng zhēn guì de cǎo yào. tā fān shān yuè lǐng, zǒu biàn le zhōu wéi de shān chuān hé liú, què shǐ zhōng méi yǒu zhǎo dào. cūn mín men dōu quàn tā fàng qì, shuō zhè zhǒng cǎo yào bǎi nián bù yù, gēn běn bù kě néng zhǎo dào. lǎo xiān shēng què shǐ zhōng méi yǒu fàng qì, tā xiāo xìn zǒng yǒu yī tiān huì zhǎo dào tā. zhōng yú, zài lǎo xiān shēng jiǔ shí duō suì de shí hòu, tā zài yī ge wú rén wèn jīn de shēn shān lǐ zhǎo dào le zhè zhǒng cǎo yào. cūn mín men dōu wèi tā de jiān chí bù xiè suǒ gǎn dòng, fēn fēn chēng zàn tā shì “bǎi nián bù yù” de qí rén.

Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a small village where an old gentleman lived. He spent his whole life searching for a precious herb. He climbed mountains and crossed rivers, but he never found it. The villagers all advised him to give up, saying that this herb is a once-in-a-century event, it's impossible to find. But the old gentleman never gave up. He believed that one day he would find it. Finally, when the old gentleman was over ninety years old, he found the herb in an uncharted mountain. The villagers were all moved by his persistence and praised him as a

Usage

这个成语用来形容事物出现的频率很低，机会难得。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yòng lái xíng róng shì wù chū xiàn de pín lǜ hěn dī, jī huì nán dé.

This idiom is used to describe things that occur very rarely, and the opportunities are precious.

Examples

• 这个机会真是百年不遇，一定要把握住。

  zhè ge jī huì zhēn shì bǎi nián bù yù, yī dìng yào bǎ wò zhù.

  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, make sure you grab it.

• 他这次的成功，可以说是百年不遇的奇迹。

  tā zhè cì de chéng gōng, kě yǐ shuō shì bǎi nián bù yù de qí jì.

  His success this time is a miracle that happens once in a century.

• 这种罕见的自然现象，百年不遇，真让人惊叹。

  zhè zhǒng hǎn jiàn de zì rán xiàn xiàng, bǎi nián bù yù, zhēn ràng rén jīng tàn

  This rare natural phenomenon is a once-in-a-century event, it's truly amazing.

Related Idioms

• 千载难逢

• 凤毛麟角

Opposite Idioms

• 屡见不鲜

• 司空见惯