Definition
光阴 is a literary term for 'time', emphasizing time as a valuable but fleeting resource. It appears in set phrases like 光阴似箭 (time flies like an arrow) and 一寸光阴一寸金 (time is gold). It is more poetic than the everyday word 时间, so you will encounter it in formal writing, speeches, or older texts. Avoid using it in casual conversation.
n.
time (as a fleeting, precious resource; literary/formal register)
Examples
- 光阴，。guāng yīn sì jiàn, zhuǎn yǎn jiān yì nián jiù guò qù le.Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye a year has passed.
- 光阴。Wǒmen yào zhēnxī měi yí cùn guāng yīn.We must cherish every moment of time.
- 光阴。Dàxué sì nián de guāng yīn hěn kuài jiù guò qù le.The four years of university passed very quickly.
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