荏苒

A reduplicative, ideophonic compound in Late Old Chinese. Compare:

• 荏 (OC *njɯmʔ, “soft”),
• 苒苒 (OC *njamʔ njamʔ, “tender; gradual”),
• 冉冉 (OC *njamʔ njamʔ, “slowly passing or moving; hanging down gently”), and
• 荏染 (OC *njɯmʔ njomʔ, “soft; tender”) (Shijing).

荏苒

1. (literary, of time) to pass gradually; to elapse; to slip by quickly or imperceptibly

   • 玄德回新野之後，光陰荏苒，又早新春。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     玄德回新野之后，光阴荏苒，又早新春。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Xuándé huí Xīnyě zhīhòu, guāngyīn rěnrǎn, yòu zǎo xīnchūn. [Pinyin]

     After Xuande returned to Xinye, the time slipped away till spring was near.

   • 荏苒三年，陞了御史，欽點廣東學道。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     荏苒三年，升了御史，钦点广东学道。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Wu Jingzi, The Scholars, 1750 CE

     Rěnrǎn sān nián, shēng le yùshǐ, qīndiǎn Guǎngdōng xuédào. [Pinyin]

     In three years' time, he rose to the rank of censor and was appointed commissioner of education for Guangdong Province.

2. (literary) to waste (time); to play for time
3. (literary) to pass through many places; to move about

荏苒

1. (literary, ideophonic, of worry, sadness, etc.) incessant; never-ending; continual
2. (literary, ideophonic) Alternative form of 荏染 (“weak; delicate”).