度日如年

dùrì-rúnián

idiom #26,975

Meanings

1 each day feels like a year
2 time drags on endlessly (when suffering or bored)

Characters

to pass (time); to spend

Examples

他在医院等消息，度日如年。

Tā zài yīyuàn děng xiāoxi, dùrìrúnián.

He waited at the hospital for news — each day felt like a year.

战俘在集中营里度日如年。

Zhànfú zài jízhōngyíng lǐ dùrìrúnián.

The prisoners of war felt every day in the camp was like a year.

Tips

usage

Used to describe extreme psychological suffering, boredom, or waiting. It contrasts with 光阴似箭 (time flies like an arrow), which describes happy or busy times.

Stroke Order

度 dù

日 rì

如 rú

年 nián