# 姗姗来迟

shān shān lái chí

Arrive noticeably late

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Come slowly and gracefully, but late

**Traditional Chinese:** 姍姍來遲

**Register:** Descriptive · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe delayed arrival, often with gentle humor.

Not always literal walking or deliberate delay.

## Understanding the expression

The phrase evokes a slow, measured arrival when others have already been waiting. Modern use often describes a person arriving late, but can also apply to spring, a reply, or long awaited news. It sounds gentler or more literary than a blunt complaint about lateness. The delay may not be intentional. Context supplies the feeling: relief at an eventual arrival, teasing, or frustration after too much waiting are all possible.

## Examples

他在聚会结束前姗姗来迟。

### Traditional Chinese

他在聚會結束前姍姍來遲。

tā zài jù huì jié shù qián shān shān lái chí 。

He arrived late, just before the gathering ended.

春天今年姗姗来迟。

### Traditional Chinese

春天今年姍姍來遲。

chūn tiān jīn nián shān shān lái chí 。

Spring arrived late this year.

她的回复终于姗姗来迟。

### Traditional Chinese

她的回覆終於姍姍來遲。

tā de huí fù zhōng yú shān shān lái chí 。

Her long awaited reply finally arrived.

最后一位客人姗姗来迟。

### Traditional Chinese

最後一位客人姍姍來遲。

zuì hòu yí wèi kè rén shān shān lái chí 。

The final guest arrived noticeably late.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A7%8D%E5%A7%8D%E4%BE%86%E9%81%B2)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=243&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [事过境迁 shì guò jìng qiān Circumstances have changed since the event ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-guo-jing-qian)

- [石破天惊 shí pò tiān jīng Be startlingly original or extraordinary ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-po-tian-jing)

- [史无前例 shǐ wú qián lì Have no known earlier parallel ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/shi-wu-qian-li)

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