虚度年华 Waste one's youth
Explanation
虚度年华指的是白白地度过美好的年华，没有做出任何有意义的事情，没有实现自己的价值和理想。
Xū dù nián huá means to waste one's precious time without doing anything meaningful, without realizing one's values and ideals.
Origin Story
从前，有一个年轻人，名叫阿哲。他天资聪颖，但自小懒散，不思进取。他整日沉迷于享乐，虚度光阴。岁月流逝，他已不再年轻，却一事无成。看着同龄人功成名就，他悔恨交加，痛哭流涕。他终于意识到，人生苦短，时间宝贵，不能虚度年华。于是，他痛改前非，开始努力学习，积极工作。虽然已错过了最佳时机，但他依然不放弃，并最终取得了一些成绩，虽然不如那些从小努力的人，但也算是弥补了一些遗憾。
Once upon a time, there was a young man named A Zhe. He was gifted, but lazy and unambitious. He spent his days indulging in pleasures and wasting his time. As the years passed, he was no longer young, yet he had accomplished nothing. Seeing his peers succeed, he was filled with regret and tears. He finally realized that life is short and time is precious and should not be wasted. He changed his life and began to study diligently and work hard. Although he had missed the best opportunity, he did not give up and eventually achieved some success. Although not as good as those who were diligent from a young age, he was able to make up for some regrets.
Usage
虚度年华通常作谓语、宾语或定语，用来形容浪费时间，没有成就。
Xū dù nián huá is usually used as a predicate, object, or attributive to describe wasting time and lacking achievements.
Examples
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不要虚度年华，要珍惜时间，努力奋斗。
bú yào xū dù nián huá, yào zhēnxī shíjiān, nǔlì fèndòu.
Don't waste your youth, cherish your time, and strive to succeed!
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他年轻时虚度年华，如今后悔莫及。
tā niánqīng shí xū dù nián huá, rújīn hòuhuǐ mòjí.
He wasted his youth and now deeply regrets it.
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他决心不再虚度年华，要为社会做贡献。
tā juéxīn bù zài xū dù nián huá, yào wèi shèhuì zuò gòngxiàn
He decided to stop wasting his time and contribute to society.