stars shift; change of seasons; passage of time
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
the stars and constellations shift their positions; indicating seasonal change; metaphor for the passage of time
literaryA classical four-character idiom describing the passage of time through the metaphor of celestial movement. Often used in written Chinese, poetry, and formal contexts to express the relentless passage of time and seasonal change. Also expressed as 斗转星移.
Xīng星
yí移
dǒu斗
zhuǎn转
，
suì岁
yuè月
rú如
suō梭
，
zhuǎn转
yǎn眼
jiān间
wǒ我
men们
yǐ已
bì毕
yè业
shí十
nián年
le了
。
The stars have shifted, time flows like a shuttle, and ten years have passed since we graduated in the blink of an eye.
Xīng星
yí移
dǒu斗
zhuǎn转
，
wù物
shì是
rén人
fēi非
，
zhè这
zuò座
gǔ古
chéng城
yī依
rán然
jìng静
jìng静
de地
tǎng躺
zài在
shān山
shuǐ水
zhī之
jiān间
。
The stars have shifted, things remain but people change; this ancient city still lies quietly between the mountains and waters.
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Gǔ古
rén人
guān观
tiān天
xiàng象
，
jiàn见
xīng星
yí移
dǒu斗
zhuǎn转
，
biàn便
zhī知
shí时
jié节
gēng更
tì替
。
The ancients observed celestial phenomena; when they saw the stars shift, they knew the seasons were changing.
Xīng星
yí移
dǒu斗
zhuǎn转
，
chūn春
qù去
qiū秋
lái来
，
wéi唯
yǒu有
sī思
niàn念
bù不
céng曾
gǎi改
biàn变
。
The stars shift, spring departs and autumn arrives, only the longing remains unchanged.