潮時

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 潮時 (しおどき) is a noun for the right tidal moment or, figuratively, the proper time to begin, conclude, or hand over an undertaking.
• Basic usage: 潮時を見計らって舟を出す chooses a suitable tidal moment to depart, while 店を任せる潮時だ judges that the time has come to hand a long-run shop to a successor.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Tidal timing and life transition
  • 潮時を見計らう concerns actual tidal conditions, whereas 任せる潮時 figuratively marks an appropriate transition. The latter does not necessarily mean quitting because of failure.