事不宜遲 shì bù yí chí

DEFINITIONS

  1. the matter should not be delayed
  2. there's no time to lose

CHARACTERS

事 shì affair, matter, business; to serve; accident, incident
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
宜 yí suitable, right, fitting, proper
遲 chí late, tardy; slow; delay