時不再來

时

時

shí

不

bù

再

zài

来

來

lái

Time that has passed will never come back. (idiom)

Characters and words in 時不再來

时

時

shí = sh + Ø2

o'clock / time / when / hour / season / period

时 = 寸 + 日 : Mnemonic symbol: a giant pocket watch.

The sun (日) asks Sherlock Holmes (sh) out for a coffee in the space station's kitchen (Ø2). Looking at his pocket watch (时), Sherlock sees he has time, winks and "thumbs up" (寸).

不

bù = bu + Ø4

no; not so / (bound form) not; un-

不 = 丆 + 卜 : Bruno Bear (bu) is setting up a wind wheel (丆) with a voodoo staff (卜) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). He also puts a "forbidden" sign (mnemonic symbol for 不) on it, to make clear that it may not (不) be stopped.

不

bù

再

zài

no more / no longer

再

zài = z + ai4

again; once more; re- / second; another / then (after sth, and not until then) / no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也[ye3] or 都[dou1] for emphasis)

再 = 一 + 冉 : Zorro finally received the flute he was waiting for so long in the airplane's bathroom. He is so moved that he cries 再见 again and again and waves the mail snail goodbye with a handkerchief.

来

來

lái = l + ai2

to come / to arrive / to come round / ever since / next

來 = 从 + 木 : Mnemonic symbol: mailwoman. Sir Lancelot (l) is visiting the mailwoman (來) in the airplane's kitchen (ai2). As a gift, he brought a Christmas tree (木) decorated with rubber chicken (从).

来 = 丷 + 未 : Mnemonic symbol: mailwoman. Lancelot (l) is super happy that his inflatable crocodile (丷) and live size Ai Weiwei (未) puppet finally arrived (来). The mailwoman (来) delivered them straight to the kitchen of the airplane (ai2).