Proverb / Kotowaza
光陰矢の如し
Time flies as quickly as a flying arrow.
Time is like an arrow.
Quick Answer
Time flies as quickly as a flying arrow.
- Literal Image
- Time is like an arrow.
- Closest Equivalent
- Time flies (like an arrow).
- How to Use It
- Used to express surprise at how quickly time has passed, such as when children grow up or when reflecting on a decade of work. It is also used as advice to value one's time.
Meaning
Time passes with incredible speed, much like an arrow shot from a bow. It serves as a reminder that since time is fleeting and cannot be recovered, one should not live aimlessly or waste their days.
Literal Image
Time is like an arrow.
Equivalent Proverbs
Time flies (like an arrow).
A direct thematic and structural equivalent.
How to Use It
Used to express surprise at how quickly time has passed, such as when children grow up or when reflecting on a decade of work. It is also used as advice to value one's time.
Tone
Carries a reflective tone and can be used as a cautionary reminder to be productive.
Examples
入社してもう十年。光陰矢の如しとはこのことだ。
It's already been ten years since I joined the company. Time flies like an arrow, as they say.
光陰矢の如しで、子どもたちはあっという間に成長した。
With time flying like an arrow, the children have grown up in the blink of an eye.
卒業からもう二十年とは、光陰矢の如しと言うほかない。
It's already been twenty years since graduation; I can only describe it by saying time flies like an arrow.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the core concept is simple, it uses the literary word 'kouin' (light and shadow) for time and the classical 'no gotoshi' grammar for comparison.
光陰
こういん / kouin
time (literally 'light and shadow')
矢
や / ya
arrow
如し
ごとし / gotoshi
like; as
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Ensure you use the classical 'no gotoshi' form correctly; it is more formal than modern comparisons using 'no you da'.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.