Meaning:

    “人生” means “life,” “的” is a possessive marker, and “扣子” means “button.” Literally translated as “life’s button,” this term was used in May last year by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a seminar with students and teachers at Beijing University. Xi said that living one’s life is like buttoning up one’s jacket. If you make a mistake matching the first button and its hole, you will inevitably make more mistakes later on. He used the metaphor to remind young people to think clearly and be cautious about decisions.

    Example:

    A: 这个周末去哪里玩？

    Zhège zhōumò qù nǎlǐ wán?

    Where are you hanging out this weekend?

    B: 我要准备毕业论文，不去哪儿玩了。

    Wǒ yào zhǔnbèi bìyè lùnwén, bù qù nǎr wán le。

    I will stay put and prepare my graduation thesis.

    A: 你什么时候变学霸了？

    Nǐ shénme shíhòu biàn xuébà le?

    When did you aim to be a top student?

    B: 我要珍惜时间，扣好人生的扣子。

    Wǒ yào zhēnxī shíjiān, kòuhǎo rénshēng de kòuzi。

    I have to treasure my time and make wise decisions early on.