守时如金

Pronunciation: shǒu shí rú jīn Literal meaning: Value time like gold

Origin & Usage

To guard (守) time (时) as though it were gold (如金). This is a modern four-character phrase, not a classical idiom: it has no source text, and it is formed on the pattern of the much older 一寸光阴一寸金 ("an inch of time is an inch of gold") and 惜时如金. What it adds to that older sentiment is 守 — the sense is not merely valuing time in the abstract but keeping to it, which is why it attaches in practice to punctuality and to meeting deadlines rather than to thrift with one's hours.

Examples

English: "She always arrived early for meetings, respecting everyone's time"

Chinese: 她总是提前到达会议，尊重每个人的时间