Chinese characters and pinyin
Simplified: 机不可失，时不再来
Traditional: 機不可失，時不再來
Pinyin: jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái
Literal translation
An opportunity must not be lost; the right time will not return.
Natural English meaning
Act when a valuable, time-sensitive opportunity appears.
Closest English equivalent
Strike while the iron is hot.
Both emphasize timing, though the Chinese saying directly warns that the moment may not return.
When to use it
Use it for a genuine opportunity with a closing window.
When not to use it
Do not use artificial urgency to pressure someone into a bad decision.
Example sentence
这个合作窗口只有一周，机不可失，时不再来。
The partnership window lasts one week; we should act while the opportunity is open.
Origin and cultural context
A traditional maxim about recognizing and seizing the right moment.
Classification: proverb. This label distinguishes a complete proverb or popular saying from a compact idiom or a quotation preserved from a classical text.
