DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

機不可失，失不再來

简机不可失，失不再来 · 繁機不可失，失不再來

Mandarin · pinyin jī bù kě shī , shī bù zài lái

opportunity knocks but once (idiom)

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

機: Look up this written character
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
失: shī · lose; make mistake, neglect
再: zài · again, twice, re-
來: lái · come, coming; return, returning
机: jī · desk; machine; moment
来: lái · come, coming; return, returning

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Connected dictionary

7character links

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

機不可失，失不再來 · find source passages ↗ · 机不可失，失不再来 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗