Chinese Idiom: 一刻千金 (Yi Ke Qian Jin)
English Translation: An Instant Worth a Thousand Gold
pīn yīn: yī kè qiān jīn
Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe the immense value of time.
Historical Source: Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi’s poem “Spring Night.”
Idiom Story: Su Shi, a renowned poet of the Song Dynasty, was known for his broad range of themes, innovative ideas, and use of unique and appropriate metaphors. His language was elegant and beautiful, and his works often left readers with a sense of freedom and grace. One of his poems, “Spring Night,” is especially famous. The poem consists of four lines:
春宵一刻值千金，花有清香月有阴。 歌管楼台声细细，秋千院落夜沉沉。
The general meaning of the poem is: How delightful is a spring night! Though the time is brief, it is worth a thousand gold. Flowers emit their fragrance, and the moon casts shadows as it moves through the clouds. In the quiet of the night, the soft sounds of songs and flutes drift from the terraces, while the courtyard swings hang silently in the deep night.
Later, the line “A spring night’s brief moment is worth a thousand gold” was simplified to the idiom “an instant worth a thousand gold” (一刻千金), emphasizing the preciousness of time.
