Definition
"泡影" literally means 'bubbles and shadows' — a metaphor for something fleeting, insubstantial, and easily shattered. It is commonly used in phrases like 化为泡影 (huà wéi pào yǐng, 'to vanish like a bubble') or 成了泡影 (chéng le pào yǐng, 'to turn out to be a bubble'), describing hopes, plans, or dreams that collapse completely.
n.
(figurative) something illusory and short-liveda shattered hope
Examples
- 泡影。Suǒ yǒu de nǔlì zuìzhōng dōu huà wéi pào yǐng.All the efforts ultimately turned into nothing.
- 泡影，。Tā de mèngxiǎng jiù xiàng yí gè pào yǐng, hěn kuài jiù xiāoshī le.His dream was like a bubble — it vanished quickly.
- 泡影。Nà ge jìhuà chèdǐ chéng le pào yǐng.That plan completely fell apart.
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