机不可失

機不可失

jībù-kěshī

idiom #19,636

Meanings

机不可失，时不再来。

Jībùkěshī, shí bùzài lái.

Opportunity knocks but once — don't let it slip away.

机不可失，我们赶快行动吧。

Jībùkěshī, wǒmen gǎnkuài xíngdòng ba.

We can't miss this chance — let's act fast.

usage

Almost always used with the follow-up phrase 时不再来 (the moment won't come again). Together they form a well-known proverb.

memory

机 (opportunity) + 不可 (cannot) + 失 (lose) — the opportunity cannot be lost.

机 jī

不 bù

可 kě

失 shī