as if a lifetime has passed; feel time's passage keenly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
as if a generation has passed; a keen sense of the passage of time and dramatic changes
literaryExpresses a feeling of distance and wonder when confronted with significant changes after a long absence or period of time. Often used in a contemplative or slightly melancholic tone.
Shí十
nián年
hòu后
chóng重
huí回
mǔ母
xiào校
，
xiào校
yuán园
biàn变
huà化
jù巨
dà大
，
lìng令
rén人
huǎng恍
rú如
gé隔
shì世
。
Returning to my alma mater after ten years, the campus has changed so much it feels like a lifetime has passed.
Kàn看
zhe着
zhè这
xiē些
lǎo老
zhào照
piàn片
，
huí回
yì忆
qǐ起
tóng童
nián年
wǎng往
shì事
，
wǒ我
yǒu有
yī一
zhǒng种
huǎng恍
rú如
gé隔
shì世
de的
gǎn感
jué觉
。
Looking at these old photos and reminiscing about my childhood, I have a feeling as if a lifetime has passed.
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Zhàn战
hòu后
chóng重
jiàn建
de的
chéng城
shì市
miàn面
mào貌
yī一
xīn新
，
ràng让
guī归
lái来
de的
lǎo老
bīng兵
huǎng恍
rú如
gé隔
shì世
。
The post-war reconstructed city, with its completely new appearance, made the returning veteran feel as if a generation had passed.
Kē科
jì技
fā发
zhǎn展
rì日
xīn新
yuè月
yì异
，
duǎn短
duǎn短
jǐ几
nián年
jiù就
ràng让
rén人
yǒu有
huǎng恍
rú如
gé隔
shì世
zhī之
gǎn感
。
Technological development changes with each passing day; just a few years can give one the feeling that a lifetime has passed.