云烟 (yún yān) — (literary) clouds and mist; drifting smoke; (figurative) something transient or insubstantial
Definition
Literary word for 'clouds and mist' (often drifting), used in poetry and prose. Figuratively, it means something as fleeting and insubstantial as passing clouds — past events, fame, or worldly concerns that vanish.
noun
(literary) clouds and mistdrifting smoke(figurative) something transient or insubstantial
Examples
- 云烟，。Yuǎn chù de shān jiān yún yān liáo rào, wǎn rú xiān jìng.Clouds and mist swirl among the distant mountains, like a fairyland.
- ，。Wǎng shì rú yún yān, yí qù bù fǎn.Past events are like drifting clouds and smoke — gone and never to return.
- 云烟，。Huà zhōng yún yān piāo miǎo, yì jìng shēn yuǎn.In the painting, the mist and smoke are ethereal, creating a profound artistic mood.
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