错过时机 miss the opportunity
Explanation
指失去机会，没有把握住时机。
Refers to missing an opportunity, not seizing the chance.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，一位名叫李白的诗人，正值壮年，才华横溢，渴望建功立业。一次，他听说朝廷正在选拔人才，便兴冲冲地赶往长安参加科举考试。然而，他到达长安时，考试已经结束，他错过了这次改变命运的机会，不禁悲从中来，写下了许多千古流传的诗篇，表达了他的遗憾与不甘。 另一个故事发生在宋代。一位年轻的商人，精明能干，看好南方丝绸贸易的商机。他筹备了大量的资金和货物，准备南下经商。但因为路上突遇暴雨，耽误了行程，等他到达南方时，市场已经饱和，他错过了最佳的时机，不得不以低价出售货物，损失惨重。 这些故事都说明了一个道理：时间就是机会，机遇稍纵即逝，我们必须时刻保持敏锐的洞察力，抓住每一个机会，才能在人生的道路上取得成功。
It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, a poet named Li Bai, in his prime and brimming with talent, longed to serve the country and achieve glory. Once, he heard that the imperial court was selecting talented individuals, so he eagerly rushed to Chang'an to participate in the imperial examination. However, upon arriving in Chang'an, he discovered that the examination had already concluded. He missed this opportunity to change his fate and was heartbroken, writing many poems that have been passed down through the ages, expressing his regret and resentment. A different story took place during the Song Dynasty. A young, shrewd merchant saw the business opportunity in the southern silk trade. He prepared a large amount of capital and goods, ready to travel south for business. However, a sudden rainstorm delayed his journey. By the time he arrived in the south, the market was saturated, he missed the best opportunity, and he had to sell his goods at a low price, resulting in significant losses. These stories illustrate a truth: time is opportunity, and opportunities are fleeting. We must always maintain a keen insight and seize every chance to succeed in life.
Usage
主要用作宾语、谓语；形容失去机会。
Mainly used as object and predicate; describes missing an opportunity.
Examples
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他因为犹豫不决，错过了这次升职加薪的机会。
ta yinwei youyu bujue, cuoguole zheci shengzhi jiaxin de jihui.
He missed the opportunity for promotion and salary increase because of his indecision.
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创业初期，他因为缺乏经验，错过了很多商机。
chuangye chuqi, ta yinwei quefa jingyan, cuoguole henduo shangji
In the early days of his business, he missed many business opportunities due to lack of experience.