Definition
烟云 refers literally to mist and clouds. In literary Chinese, it's often used as a metaphor for things that pass away quickly — memories, fame, fortune — comparing them to drifting clouds that disappear. You can use it in both concrete scenes (describing mountains or skies) and abstract contexts (reflecting on a vanished era or fleeting experiences).
n.
mist and clouds(figurative) transient thingsthe vanished past
Examples
- 烟云。Yuǎnchù de yān lǒngzhào zhe qúnshān.The mist and clouds in the distance shroud the mountains.
- 烟云，。Wǎngshì rú yān, zǎoyǐ xiāosàn zài jìyì lǐ.Past events are like mist and clouds — already dissipated in memory.
- 烟云。Mínglì duì tā lái shuō búguò shì guòyǎn yān.Fame and fortune are just passing clouds to him.
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