机不可失

機不可失

jībùkěshī

idiom #19,636

Meanings

Jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái.

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

Jī bù kě shī, 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