One Day Three Autumns

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Informant: Kelley Lin, 18, F

Date Collected: 5/19/14

Genre: Proverb

Informant Data: Kelley was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and currently lives in a Philadelphia suburb. Her parents are from Fuzhou, China, and she speaks Mandarin at home with her mother and grandparents. She attends Dartmouth College, is a member of the Dartmouth Chinese Culture Society and believes her Mandarin level is beginner to intermediate. She actually encountered this proverb online, as it is popularly translated, cited and tattooed on people. This proverb was collected through an interview at a DCCS meeting.

Text/Texture 

Chinese:
一日三秋 (yí rì sān qiū)
Literal Translation: One day three autumns

Free Translation: One day can feel like three autumns, or three autumns can pass in what feels like a day. 

Context: Commonly used when talking to people about what you want to do in the future or by parents bestowing wisdom on their children and advising them in how to consider their career options.

Meaning/Interpretation: Find something you really enjoy to pass the time, or it will be miserable.