盛筵难再 — “A splendid occasion or a rare opportunity is not easily repeated”

盛筵难再 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a splendid occasion or a rare opportunity is not easily repeated”. Such chances are fleeting and should be treasured. Literally, “A grand feast is hard to have again”.

Frequency

盛筵难再 Pronunciation and Pinyin

盛筵难再 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
盛	shèng	12	Flourishing, grand, or abundant
筵	yán	14	grand banquet or feast
难	nán	10	difficult, troublesome, or bad
再	zài	6	again, then, furthermore

Example Sentence with 盛筵难再

这次同学聚会，大家难得一聚，真是盛筵难再，一定要好好珍惜。

This class reunion is a rare opportunity for all of us to gather; such a grand occasion is hard to come by again, so we must cherish it.

Origin and Story of 盛筵难再

During the Tang Dynasty, Wang Bo, one of the "Four Literary Masters of the Early Tang," was exiled after offending Emperor Gaozong with his essay "Proclamation Against the Cock of Prince Ying." On his way to Jiaozhi to visit his father, he passed through Hongzhou during the Double Ninth Festival.

The Governor of Hongzhou, Yan Boyu, was hosting a magnificent banquet with poetry and music. Inspired by the splendid scene, Wang Bo composed his famous "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng," in which he wrote, "Famed places are not common, and grand feasts are hard to come by again." This line perfectly captures the essence of "盛筵难再," emphasizing the rarity and preciousness of such memorable gatherings and opportunities.