稍纵即逝 shāo zòng jí shì fleeting

Explanation

形容时间或机会很容易过去，一眨眼就没了。

Describes time or opportunity that is easily passed, gone in the blink of an eye.

Origin Story

从前，有个年轻人，他得到一个非常难得的机会去参加一个重要的比赛。可是，他却因为准备不足，错过了这个千载难逢的机会。比赛开始的时候，他还在磨磨蹭蹭地准备东西，等到他终于准备好，比赛已经结束了。年轻人后悔莫及，他明白机会稍纵即逝的道理。他决心以后要更加努力，不再错过任何机会。

congqian, you ge niánqīngrén, tā dédào yīgè fēicháng nándé de jīhuì qù cānjiā yīgè zhòngyào de bǐsài. kěshì, tā què yīnwèi zhǔnbèi bù zú, cuòguò le zhège qiānzǎi nánféng de jīhuì. bǐsài kāishǐ de shíhòu, tā hái zài mòmò cèngcèng de zhǔnbèi dōngxi, děngdào tā zhōngyú zhǔnbèi hǎo, bǐsài yǐjīng jiéshù le. niánqīngrén hòuhuǐ mòjí, tā míngbái jīhuì shāozòngjíshì de dàolǐ. tā juéxīn yǐhòu yào gèngjiā nǔlì, bù zài cuòguò rènhé jīhuì.

Once upon a time, there was a young man who got a rare opportunity to participate in an important competition. However, due to insufficient preparation, he missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When the competition started, he was still dawdling around preparing things. By the time he was finally ready, the competition had already ended. The young man deeply regretted it and understood that opportunities are fleeting. He resolved to work harder in the future and never miss any opportunity again.

Usage

多用于描写时间或机会转瞬即逝。

duō yòngyú miáoxiě shíjiān huò jīhuì zhuǎn shùn jí shì

Often used to describe how time or opportunity passes quickly.

Examples

• 机会稍纵即逝，我们必须抓住它。

  jihui shaozongjishi, women bixu zhuazhu ta.

  Opportunities are fleeting; we must seize them.

• 时间稍纵即逝，要珍惜每一分每一秒。

  shijian shaozongjishi, yao zhenxi meiyifen meiyimiao

  Time flies; cherish every minute and second.

Related Idioms

• 昙花一现

• 光阴似箭

Opposite Idioms

• 持久

• 长久