Definition
昙花一现 is a four-character idiom that literally refers to the night-blooming cereus (昙花), which flowers for only a few hours. It is used metaphorically to describe something — such as fame, success, or popularity — that appears briefly and then quickly disappears, like a 'flash in the pan'. You can use it to comment on trends, careers, or events that are short-lived.
f.e.
to bloom briefly(figurative) short-livedfleeting (of success, fame, etc.)
Examples
- 昙花一现，。Tā de chénggōng zhǐ shì tán huā yī xiàn, hěn kuài jiù bèi rén wàngjì le.His success was just a flash in the pan; he was soon forgotten.
- 昙花一现，。Zhè zhǒng shíshàng jiù shì tán huā yī xiàn, liúxíng liǎo bù duō jiǔ.This kind of fashion is just a fleeting trend; it won't last long.
- 昙花一现，。Nà ge míngxīng de shìyè rú tán huā yī xiàn, zhǐ huīhuáng le yì nián.That celebrity's career was like a fleeting flower, brilliant for only one year.
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