光陰矢の如し

Japanese

Kanji in this term
光	陰	矢	如
こう Grade: 2	いん Grade: S	や Grade: 2	ごと Grade: S
on’yomi		kun’yomi

Etymology

From 但見時光流似箭 ("surely time and tide flow like an arrow"), as versed by Wei Zhuang (Tang Dynasty, c. 836-910) in his poem 《關河道中》:

槐陌蟬聲柳市風，驛樓高倚夕陽東。
往來千里路長在，聚散十年人不同。
但見時光流似箭，豈知天道曲如弓。
平生志業匡堯舜，又擬滄浪學釣翁。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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槐陌蝉声柳市风，驿楼高倚夕阳东。
往来千里路长在，聚散十年人不同。
但见时光流似箭，岂知天道曲如弓。
平生志业匡尧舜，又拟沧浪学钓翁。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Huái mò chán shēng liǔshì fēng, yìlóu gāo yǐ xīyáng dōng.
Wǎnglái qiānlǐ lù cháng zài, jùsàn shí nián rén bùtóng.
Dàn jiàn shíguāng liú sì jiàn, qǐ zhī tiāndào qū rú gōng.
Píngshēng zhìyè kuāng Yáo Shùn, yòu nǐ cānglàng xué diàowēng. [Pinyin]

(please add an English translation of this usage example)

Compare Chinese 光陰似箭／光阴似箭 (guāng yīn sì jiàn).

Proverb

光(こう)陰(いん)矢(や)の如(ごと)し • (kōin ya no gotoshi) 

1. time flies like an arrow; time and tide wait for no man; life is short

   Synonym: うかうか三十きょろきょろ四十