光陰矢の如し — Japanese Proverb | Printable Wall Art

“光陰矢の如し”
“Time flies like an arrow”

A traditional Japanese saying, set as gallery-quality typographic wall art.

About this quote

This proverb uses the image of an arrow released from a bow to describe the swift, unstoppable nature of time. Just as a shot arrow flies straight and cannot be recalled, moments pass quickly and cannot be recovered. It encourages the reader to appreciate the present moment, avoid procrastination, and make thoughtful use of the time they have.

This is a traditional Japanese proverb derived from classical Chinese literature, where light and shade represent time. It has been used across East Asia for centuries as a standard expression regarding the rapid passage of life.

People often place this in a home office or hallway as a daily reminder to focus and value time.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.