Chinese Proverbs About Time
Time has always been a central concern in Chinese thought. The turning of seasons, the flow of rivers, the arc of personal and dynastic history—these observations shaped how people understood their place in the world and how they should conduct themselves.
Many of these proverbs capture the dual nature of time: it can feel abundant one moment and scarce the next. Some counsel waiting, letting situations unfold at their own pace. Others press for action before an opening closes. Taken together, they resist simple formulas—neither constant hurrying nor passive drifting.
Whether you need encouragement to move on something, patience to endure difficulty, or just perspective on where you are in life, these sayings have been serving that purpose for a long time.
机不可失，时不再来
Jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái
"Opportunities must not be lost; time will not come again"
弹指一挥间
Tánzhǐ yī huī jiān
"In the time it takes to snap one's fingers"
光阴似箭
Guāngyīn sì jiàn
"Time passes like an arrow"
岁月如梭
Suìyuè rú suō
"Years and months pass like a shuttle"
白驹过隙
Bái jū guò xì
"A white colt passes a crevice"
早起三光，晚起三慌
Zǎo qǐ sān guāng, wǎn qǐ sān huāng
"Rise early and everything is bright; rise late and everything is rushed"
一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨
Yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén
"The plan for a year lies in spring; the plan for a day lies in the morning"
一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴
Yī cùn guāngyīn yī cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn
"An inch of time is an inch of gold; an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time"
秋后的蚂蚱，蹦跶不了几天
Qiū hòu de mà zha, bèng da bù liǎo jǐ tiān
"A grasshopper after autumn cannot jump around for many days"
机不可失，时不再来
jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái
"Opportunities cannot be lost; time does not come again"
岁月不饶人
suì yuè bù ráo rén
"Time shows mercy to no one"
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲
shào zhuàng bù nǔ lì, lǎo dà tú shāng bēi
"If you do not exert yourself in youth, you will regret it in old age"
一日不见，如隔三秋
Yī rì bù jiàn, rú gé sān qiū
"One day without seeing you is like being separated by three autumns"
一日之计在于晨，一年之计在于春
Yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén, yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn
"The plan for a day lies in the morning; the plan for a year lies in spring"
一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴
Yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn
"An inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time"
人生无常
Rén shēng wú cháng
"Life is impermanent"
未雨绸缪
Wèi yǔ chóu móu
"Bind the nest before the rain"
欲速则不达
Yù sù zé bù dá
"Haste does not bring success"
十年磨一剑
Shí nián mó yī jiàn
"Ten years to sharpen a sword"
一寸光阴一寸金
Yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn
"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold"
光阴似箭
Guāng yīn sì jiàn
"Time flies like an arrow"