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.
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.
Standard modern spelling using hiragana for the auxiliary.
Classical spelling with 如し; seen in literary or formal contexts.
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.