Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It’s passing, yet I’m the one who’s doing all the moving. ~Martin Amis, Money
You are going to have a very classic Chinese essay / article lesson today. The author 朱自清 Zhū Zìqīng was born on November 22, 1898 and passed away on August 12, 1948 due to a severe stomach illness. He was a renowned Chinese poet and essayist. I learned 朱自清 Zhū Zìqīng’s 匆匆 Cōngcōng when I was in middle school, and till now I still have a vivid memory about its timeless beauty. At the end of the lesson, I attached some wise proverbs, quotes, and sayings about flying of time and the importance of saving and cherishing time.
Based on different abilities of readers, the post is arranged by the following sections:
1 Chinese text of idiom story with audio
2 Chinese text of idiom story with audio and pinyin
3 Annotated Chinese text of idiom story with pinyin
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation and audio
5 Famous and wise Chinese proverbs, quotes and sayings about time and life.
1 Chinese text of idiom story with audio
朱自清
匆匆
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely.mp3|titles=hastely]
洗手的时候，日子从水盆里过去；吃饭的时候，日子从饭碗里过去；默默时，便从凝然的双眼前过去。我觉察他去的匆匆了，伸出手遮挽时，他又从遮挽着的手边过去，天黑时，我躺在床上，他便伶伶俐俐地从我身上跨过，从我脚边飞去了。等我睁开眼和太阳再见，这算又溜走了一日。我掩着面叹息。但是新来的日子的影儿又开始在叹息里闪过了。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely1.mp3|titles=hastely]
在逃去如飞的日子里，在千门万户的世界里的我能做些什么呢？只有徘徊罢了，只有匆匆罢了；在八千多日的匆匆里，除徘徊外，又剩些什么呢？过去的日子如轻烟，被微风吹散了，如薄雾，被初阳蒸融了；我留着些什么痕迹呢？我何曾留着像游丝样的痕迹呢？我赤裸裸来到这世界，转眼间也将赤裸裸的回去罢？但不能平的，为什么偏要白白走这一遭啊？
你聪明的，告诉我，我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢？
１９２２年３月２８日
2 Chinese text of idiom story with audio and pinyin
朱自清
Zhū Zìqīng
匆匆
Cōngcōng
Haste
or
Hastily
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely.mp3|titles=hastely]
洗手的时候，日子从水盆里过去；
xǐshǒu de shíhou , rìzi cóng shuǐpén lǐ guòqù ；
吃饭的时候，日子从饭碗里过去；
chīfàn de shíhou , rìzi cóng fànwǎn lǐ guòqù ；
默默时，便从凝然的双眼前过去。
mòmòshí , biàn cóng níng rán de shuāngyǎn qián guòqù .
我觉察他去的匆匆了，伸出手遮挽时，他又从遮挽着的手边过去，
Wǒ juéchá tā qù de cōngcōng le , shēnchū shǒu zhē wǎn shí , tā yòu cóng zhē wǎn zháo de shǒu biān guòqù ,
天黑时，我躺在床上，
tiān hēi shí , Wǒ tǎng zài chuáng shang ,
他便伶伶俐俐地从我身上跨过，从我脚边飞去了。
tā biàn líng línglì lì dì cóng Wǒ shēn shàng kuàguò , cóng Wǒ jiǎo biān fēiqù le .
等我睁开眼和太阳再见，这算又溜走了一日。
děng Wǒ zhēngkāi yǎn hé tàiyáng zàijiàn , zhè suàn yòu liùzǒu le Yī Rì .
我掩着面叹息。但是新来的日子的影儿又开始在叹息里闪过了。
Wǒ yǎnzhe miàn tànxī . dànshì xīnláide rìzi de yǐng ér yòu kāishǐ zài tànxī lǐ shǎnguò le .
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely1.mp3|titles=hastely]
在逃去如飞的日子里，在千门万户的世界里的我能做些什么呢？
zài táo qù rú fēi de rìzi lǐ , zài yīqiān mén yīwàn hù de shìjiè lǐ de Wǒ néng zuò xiē shénme ne ?
只有徘徊罢了，只有匆匆罢了；
zhǐyǒu páihuái bà le , zhǐyǒu cōngcōng bà le ；
在八千多日的匆匆里，除徘徊外，又剩些什么呢？
zài bāqiān duō rì de cōngcōng lǐ , chú páihuái wài , yòu shèng xiē shénme ne ?
过去的日子如轻烟，被微风吹散了，如薄雾，被初阳蒸融了；
guòqù de rìzi rú qīng yān , bèi wēifēng chuīsàn le , rú bówù , bèi chū yáng zhēng róng le ；
我留着些什么痕迹呢？我何曾留着像游丝样的痕迹呢？
Wǒ liúzhe xiē shénme hénjì ne ? Wǒ hé céng liúzhe xiàng yóu sī yàng de hénjì ne ?
我赤裸裸来到这世界，转眼间也将赤裸裸的回去罢？
Wǒ chìluǒluǒ láidào zhè shìjiè , zhuǎnyǎnjiān yě jiāng chìluǒluǒ de huíqu bà ?
但不能平的，为什么偏要白白走这一遭啊？
dàn bù néng píng de , wèishénme piān yào báibái zǒu zhè yī zāo ā ?
你聪明的，告诉我，我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢？
nǐ cōngming de , gàosu Wǒ , wǒmen de rìzi wèishénme yī qù bù fù fǎn ne ?
１９２２年３月２８日
yuán zài Yīqiān jiǔbǎi èrshíèr nián sì yuè Shíyī Rì
3 Annotated Chinese text of idiom story with pinyin
朱自清
Zhū Zìqīng
匆匆
Cōngcōng
洗[xǐ， verb, wash] 手[shǒu, noun, hands] 的 [de, particle to connect the attributive and the noun it modifies ] 时候[shí hòu, noun phrase, time] ，日子[rì zi, noun, days, zi is a suffix, no meaning] 从[cōng, preposition, from] 水盆[shuǐ pén, noun, water basin] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] 过去[guò qu, verb phrase, pass] ；吃饭[chī fàn, eating meals] 的 [de, connecting particle]时候[shí hòu, noun, time] ，日子[rì zi, noun, days] 从[cōng, preposition, from] 饭碗[fàn wǎn, fàn means cooked rice, wǎn means bowl, together they mean eating bowls] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] 过去[guò qu, verb phrase, pass] ；默默[mòmò, duplication adjectives, silent] 时[shí, noun, time] ，便[biàn, adverb, then or thus] 从[cōng, preposition, from] 凝然[níng rán is an adjective phrase, níng means stare, rán means like this; together it means staring or stared ] 的[de, connecting particle] 双[shuāng, adjective, both] 眼[yǎn, noun, eyes] 前[ qián, preposition, in front of] 过去[guò qu, verb phrase, pass] 。我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 觉察[jué chá, verb phrase, feel and notice ] 他[tā, pronoun, here refers to time] 去[qù, verb, go or pass] 的[de, connecting particle] 匆匆[cōng cōng, noun, haste] 了[le, sentence final particle] ，伸出[shēn chū, verb phrase, stretch out] 手[shǒu, noun, hands] 遮[zhē, verb, cover or shield or protect] 挽[wǎn, verb, pull back] 时[shí, noun, time] ，他[tā, pronoun, it refers to time] 又[yòu, adverb, again] 从[cōng, preposition, from] 遮[zhē, verb, to cover, to protct] 挽[wǎn, verb, to pull back] 着[zhāo, a particle usually put after verb] 的[de, connecting particle] 手[shǒu, noun, hands] 边[biān, noun, side] 过去[guò qu, verb phrase, pass] ，天[tiān, noun, sky] 黑[hēi, verb, darken] 时[shí,noun, time] ，我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 躺[tǎng, verb lie down, recline] 在[zài, preposition, on] 床[chuáng, noun, bed] 上[shàng, preposition, on top of something] ，他[tā, pronoun, it, refers to time] 便[biàn, adverb, then] 伶伶俐俐[líng líng lì lì, an idiom means clever, here with the 地 de combined, it is used as an adverb phrase — cleverly] 地[de, particle] 从[cōng, preposition, from] 我[wǒ, pronoun, I or my] 身[shēn, noun, body] 上[shàng, prepostion, means on top of something] 跨[kuà, verb, straddle ] 过[guò, complement verb, through] ，从[cōng, preposition, from] 我[wǒ, pronoun, I or my ] 脚[jiǎo, noun, leg] 边[biān, noun, side] 飞去[fēi qù, verb phrase fly away] 了[le, particle shows action finished] 。等[děng, verb, wait] 我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 睁开[zhēng kāi, verb, open] 眼[yǎn, noun, eyes] 和[hé, conjunction, with or and] 太阳[tài yáng, noun, the sun] 再见[zài jiàn, verb, see again] ，这[zhè, pronoun, this] 算[suàn, verb, counted] 又[yòu, adverb, again] 溜走[liù zǒu, verb phrase, sneak away] 了[le, particle shows action occurred] 一[yī, number, one] 日[rì, noun, day] 。我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 掩[yǎn, verb, cover] 着[zhāo, particle usually put after verb] 面[miàn, noun, face] 叹息[tàn xī, verb, sigh] 。但是[dàn shì, conjunction, but] 新[xīn, adverb, newly] 来[lái, verb, come] 的[de, connecting particle] 日子[rì zi, noun, days, zi is a suffix no meaning] 的[de, connecting particle] 影[yǐng, noun, shadow] 儿[ér, a suffix no meaning] 又[yòu, adverb, again] 开始[kāi shǐ, verb, start] 在[zài, a continuous action marker] 叹息[tàn xī, verb, sigh] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] 闪[shǎn, verb dodge ] 过[guò, complement verb, through] 了[le, particle shows action finished] 。
在[zài, prepostion, in] 逃[táo, verb, escape or run away] 去[qù, direcitonal word, táo qù means run away (to other place) ] 如[rú, preposition, like] 飞[fēi, verb, fly] 的[de, connecting particle] 日子[rì zi, noun, days] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] ，在[zài, preposition, in] 千[qiān, number, thousand] 门[mén, noun, door] 万[wàn, number, ten thousand] 户[hù, noun, window] 的[de, connecting particle] 世界[shì jiè, noun, world] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] 的[de, connecting particle] 我[wǒ, pronoun I or me] 能[néng, verb, is able to] 做[zuò, verb, do] 些[xiē, plural marker] 什么[shén me, interrogative pronoun, what] 呢[ne, question marker for open end questions] ？只有[zhǐ yǒu, adjective, only ] 徘徊[pái huái, verb, linger] 罢了[bà liǎo, a modal particle indicating (that’s all, only, nothing much) ] ，只有[zhǐ yǒu, adjective, only] 匆匆[cōng cōng, noun, haste] 罢了[bà liǎo, a modal particle indicating (that’s all, only, nothing much) ] ；在[zài, prepostion, in] 八千[bā qiān, bā number 8, qiān, number thousand ] 多[duō, adjective, more] 日[rì, noun, day] 的[de, connecting particle] 匆匆[cōng cōng, haste] 里[lǐ, preposition, within] ，除[chú, conjunction, except] 徘徊[pái huái, verb, linger] 外[wài, 除 chú …. 外 wài is a grammar structure which means besides) ，又[yòu, adverb, nevertheless ] 剩[shèng, verb, remain] 些[xiē, plural marker] 什么[shén me, interrogative pronoun] 呢[ne, open end question marker] ？过去[guò qu, adjective, past] 的[de, connecting particle] 日子[rì zi, noun, days] 如[rú, preposition, like] 轻[qīng, adjective, light] 烟[yān, noun, smoke] ，被[bèi, passive voice marker] 微[wēi, adjective, gentle] 风[fēng, noun, wind] 吹[chuī, verb, blow] 散[sǎn, complement verb, disperse] 了[le, particle shows action finished] ，如[rú, preposition, like] 薄雾[bó wù, bó means thin, wù means smoke] ，被[bèi, passive voice marker, when you see bèi, think of V+ed ] 初[chū, adjective, beginning] 阳[yáng, noun, the sun] 蒸融[zhēng róng, verb phrase, steam and melt] 了[le, particle show action occurred] ；我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 留[liú, verb, leave or remain] 着[zhāo, particle usually comes after verb] 些[xiē, plural marker] 什么[shén me, adjective, what] 痕迹[hén jī, noun, trace] 呢[ne, question marker] ？我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 何曾[hé céng, a class phrase means ever] 留[liú, verb, leave or remain] 着[zhāo, particle after a verb] 像[xiàng, preposition, like] 游[yóu, adjective, floating] 丝[sī, noun, silk thread] 样[yàng, noun, shape or style] 的[de, connecting particle] 痕迹[hén jī, noun, trace] 呢[ne, question marker for open end questions] ？我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 赤裸裸[chì luǒ luǒ, chì means red, luǒ luǒ means naked, this phrase is used to describe how the newborns look — red and naked] 来到[lái dào, verb, come to] 这[zhè, adjective, this] 世界[shì jiè, noun, world] ，转眼[zhuǎn yǎn, turn eyes or blink eyes mean short moment ] 间[jiān, preposition, within or between] 也[yě, adverb, also] 将[jiāng, verb, will] 赤裸裸[chì luǒ luǒ, red and naked] 的[de, connecting particle] 回去[huí qu, verb, return] 罢[bà, perhaps, adverb ] ？但[dàn, conjunction, but] 不能[bù néng, bù means not, néng means able,] 平[píng, verb, feel peaceful] 的[de, particle] ，为什么[wèi shén me, conjunction, why] 偏[piān, on the contrary] 要[yāo, verb, have to] 白白[bái bái, adverb, in vain] 走[zǒu, verb, walk ] 这[zhè, adjective, this] 一[yī, number one] 遭[zāo, noun, time] 啊[ā,
exclamatory particle ] ？
你[nǐ, pronoun, you] 聪明[cōng míng, adjective, smart] 的[de, particle] ，告诉[gào su, verb, tell] 我[wǒ, pronoun, me] ，我们[wǒ men, adjective our] 的[de, connecting particle] 日子[rì zi, noun, days] 为什么[wèi shén me, why] 一[yī, number, one] 去[qù, verb, go] 不[bù, negate word, not] 复返[fù fǎn, verb, come back] 呢[ne, question particle] ？
１９２２年[nián,noun, year] ３月[yuè, noun, month] ２８日[rì, noun, day]
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation and audio
朱自清
Zhū Zìqīng
匆匆
Cōngcōng
Haste
or
Hastily
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely.mp3|titles=hastely]
洗手的时候，日子从水盆里过去；
xǐshǒu de shíhou , rìzi cóng shuǐpén lǐ guòqù ；
At the time of washing hands, days are gone from water basins.
吃饭的时候，日子从饭碗里过去；
chīfàn de shíhou , rìzi cóng fànwǎn lǐ guòqù ；
At the time of eating, days are gone from rice bowls.
默默时，便从凝然的双眼前过去。
mòmòshí , biàn cóng níng rán de shuāngyǎn qián guòqù .
At the time of silence, time is gone from both gazing eyes.
我觉察他去的匆匆了，伸出手遮挽时，他又从遮挽着的手边过去，
Wǒ juéchá tā qù de cōngcōng le , shēnchū shǒu zhē wǎn shí , tā yòu cóng zhē wǎn zháo de shǒu biān guòqù ,
I felt and noticed the haste of its leaving. I stretched out hands to block and to pull it back, yet it again went through blocking and pulling hands.
天黑时，我躺在床上，
tiān hēi shí , Wǒ tǎng zài chuáng shang ,
When the sky darkened, I lay down on bed.
他便伶伶俐俐地从我身上跨过，从我脚边飞去了。
tā biàn líng línglì lì dì cóng Wǒ shēn shàng kuàguò , cóng Wǒ jiǎo biān fēiqù le .
Cleverly it went across my body and flew awy from side of my legs.
等我睁开眼和太阳再见，这算又溜走了一日。
děng Wǒ zhēngkāi yǎn hé tàiyáng zàijiàn , zhè suàn yòu liùzǒu le Yī Rì .
When I opened the eyes to see the sun once more, this was counted as another one day sneaked away again.
我掩着面叹息。但是新来的日子的影儿又开始在叹息里闪过了。
Wǒ yǎnzhe miàn tànxī . dànshì xīnláide rìzi de yǐng ér yòu kāishǐ zài tànxī lǐ shǎnguò le .
I covered my face and sighed. However, the new comming days’ shadows again dodged and passed in sighings.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely1.mp3|titles=hastely]
在逃去如飞的日子里，在千门万户的世界里的我能做些什么呢？
zài táo qù rú fēi de rìzi lǐ , zài yīqiān mén yīwàn hù de shìjiè lǐ de Wǒ néng zuò xiē shénme ne ?
In the days of escaping away like flying, in the world of thousand doors and ten thousand windows, what can I do?
只有徘徊罢了，只有匆匆罢了；
zhǐyǒu páihuái bà le , zhǐyǒu cōngcōng bà le ；
Only lingering that is all, only haste that is all.
在八千多日的匆匆里，除徘徊外，又剩些什么呢？
zài bāqiān duō rì de cōngcōng lǐ , chú páihuái wài , yòu shèng xiē shénme ne ?
Within eight thousand days of hasting; besides lingering, besides what would remain?
过去的日子如轻烟，被微风吹散了，如薄雾，被初阳蒸融了；
guòqù de rìzi rú qīng yān , bèi wēifēng chuīsàn le , rú bówù , bèi chū yáng zhēng róng le ；
The past days were like light smoke got dispersed by gentle wind, like thin fog was streamed and melted by dawning sun.
我留着些什么痕迹呢？我何曾留着像游丝样的痕迹呢？
Wǒ liúzhe xiē shénme hénjì ne ? Wǒ hé céng liúzhe xiàng yóu sī yàng de hénjì ne ?
What traces did I leave? Did I ever leave traces like floating silk threads?
我赤裸裸来到这世界，转眼间也将赤裸裸的回去罢？
Wǒ chìluǒluǒ láidào zhè shìjiè , zhuǎnyǎnjiān yě jiāng chìluǒluǒ de huíqu bà ?
I reddishly and nakedly came to this world; in a blinking of eyes, the same I will reddishly and nakedly return perhaps?
但不能平的，为什么偏要白白走这一遭啊？
dàn bù néng píng de , wèishénme piān yào báibái zǒu zhè yī zāo ā ?
Yet, what I can’t feel peaceful and satisfied is why I have to walk this life journey in vain?
你聪明的，告诉我，我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢？
nǐ cōngming de , gàosu Wǒ , wǒmen de rìzi wèishénme yī qù bù fù fǎn ne ?
You, clever, tell me, why our days are gone forever?
１９２２年３月２８日
Yī jiǔ èr èr nián sān yuè èr shí bā Rì
March 28, 1922
Translated by Shu
5 Famous and wise Chinese proverbs, quotes and sayings about time and life.
Some famous Mandarin Chinese proverbs or quotes about cherish time, treasure life, make best use of time — all with audio, pinyin and English translation:
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hastely2.mp3|titles=hastely]
节约时间，也就是使一个人的有限的生命，更加有效，而也就等于延长了人的寿命。
鲁 迅
jiéyuē shíjiān , yě jiùshì shǐ yī ge rén de yǒuxiàn de shēngmìng , gèngjiā yǒuxiào , ér yě jiù děngyú yáncháng le rén de shòumìng .
Lǔ Xùn
Saving time also will make a person’s limited life more effective, and it is equal to lengthen human life.
生命如流水，只有在他的急流与奔向前去的时候，才美丽，才有意义。
张闻天
shēngmìng rú liúshuǐ , zhǐyǒu zài tā de jíliú yǔ Bēnxiàngqián qù de shíhou , cái měilì , cái yǒu yìyì .
Zhāng Wéntiān
Life is like flowing water; only when it is rushing hurriedly and going forward, only then it is beautiful and meaningful.
子在川上曰: 逝者如斯夫，不舍昼夜.
孔子
zǐ zài chuān shàng yuē : shìzhěrú sī fū , bù shě zhòuyè .
Kǒngzǐ
I found a ridiculous translation on the net, for your laughter only —
“The son says on Sichuan It passes like this husband At all hours of the day and night !” This person probably did not learn much about classic Chinese.
My translation:
Confucius was on the river saying: What went away is like this (refers to the flowing water) which goes on day and night ceaselessly.
人生天地之间，若白驹过隙，忽然而已.
庄子
rénshēng tiāndì zhījiān , ruò bái jū guò xì , hūrán éryǐ .
Zhuāng Zǐ
That people are born between heaven and earth is like a white colt’s passing a crevice, and suddenly disappearing.
天可补，海可填，南山可移。日月既往，不可复追.
曾国藩
tiān kě bǔ , hǎi kě tián , Nánshānkě yí . Rì yuè jì wǎng , bùkě fù zhuī .
Céng Guófān
Heaven can be patched, sea can be filled, and South Mountain can be moved. However, when the sun and the moon passed (which means when time went away), they can’t be chased again.
时间就是生命，时间就是速度，时间就是力量。
郭沫若
shíjiān jiùshì shēngmìng , shíjiān jiùshì sùdù , shíjiān jiùshì lìliang .
Guō Mòrě
Time is life, time is speed, and time is strength.
时间就像海绵里的水，只要愿挤，总还是有的.
鲁迅
shíjiān jiù xiàng hǎimián lǐ de shuǐ , zhǐyào yuàn jǐ , zǒng huánshìyǒu .
Lǔ Xùn
Time is like the water in a sponge; as long as you squeeze it, there always will be something there.
No Hurry- Zac Brown Band Lyrics!