姗姗来迟

姍姍來遲

shānshānláichí

idiom #43,605

Meanings

1 to be slow in coming
2 to arrive late in a leisurely manner
3 long overdue

Characters

walking slowly and gracefully

(reduplicated for emphasis)

Examples

春天今年姗姗来迟，四月还在下雪。

Chūntiān jīnnián shānshānláichí, sì yuè hái zài xià xuě.

Spring has been slow in coming this year — it's still snowing in April.

会议都开始半小时了，他才姗姗来迟。

Huìyì dōu kāishǐ bàn xiǎoshí le, tā cái shānshānláichí.

The meeting had started half an hour earlier when he finally strolled in late.

这项政策姗姗来迟，但总算出台了。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè shānshānláichí, dàn zǒngsuàn chūtái le.

This policy is long overdue, but at least it has finally been enacted.

Tips

history

From the Han-dynasty 《汉书·孝武李夫人传》. After Lady Li's death, Emperor Wu summoned her spirit; seeing her distant figure he sighed 偏何姗姗其来迟 — 'why does she come so slowly?' The phrase carries a gentle, almost poetic tone even when mildly critical.

register

More literary than a plain 迟到 (late). Often slightly indulgent or teasing; for serious tardiness use 迟到 or 姗姗来迟 with a sharper context.

Stroke Order

姗 shān

来 lái

迟 chí