蹉跎岁月 — “To fritter away one's time”
蹉跎岁月 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to fritter away one's time”. To let time slip by unproductively; to waste precious time. Literally, “wasted years”.
蹉跎岁月 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 蹉cuō
- 跎tuó
- 岁suì
- 月yuè
蹉跎岁月 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 蹉跎岁月
Origin and Story of 蹉跎岁月
During the Tang Dynasty, the poet Li Qi achieved the rank of *jinshi* (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) at the age of 40. He served as the county magistrate of Xinxiang.
Later, feeling disillusioned with official life, he resigned and retreated to a secluded life, dedicating himself entirely to writing poetry. When his friend Wei Wan set off for the capital to pursue fame and an official career, Li Qi composed a farewell poem titled "Sending Wei Wan to the Capital."
In this poem, he included the cautionary lines: "The dawn at the border pass urges the approach of cold, the sound of fulling blocks from the imperial garden is often heard in the evening. Do not be tempted by the pleasures of Chang'an, lest you idly waste your time."
Idioms Related to 蹉跎岁月
Antonyms of 蹉跎岁月
Questions about 蹉跎岁月
- What does 蹉跎岁月 mean?
- 蹉跎岁月 (cuō tuó suì yuè) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to fritter away one's time”.
- How do you pronounce 蹉跎岁月?
- 蹉跎岁月 is pronounced cuō tuó suì yuè in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 蹉跎岁月 literally mean?
- Literally, 蹉跎岁月 means “wasted years”. It is used to mean “to fritter away one's time”.
- Where does 蹉跎岁月 come from?
- 蹉跎岁月 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 蹉跎岁月?
- 蹉跎：时光白白过去。把时光白白地耽误过去。指虚度光阴。