expression
time flies like an arrow; time and tide wait for no man; life is short
A classical proverb emphasizing the swift passage of time. Often used in reflective or cautionary contexts.
光陰矢のごとし、気がつけばもう一年が過ぎていた。
Time flies like an arrow; before I knew it, another year had passed.
「光陰矢のごとし」と言うように、若い日々はあっという間に過ぎ去る。
As the saying goes, 'time flies like an arrow,' and one's youth passes in the blink of an eye.
A classical Japanese proverb derived from Chinese literature. 光陰 (こういん) means 'light and shadow,' metaphorically 'time,' and 矢のごとし means 'like an arrow.' The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common East Asian metaphor for the swift passage of time.