paau1 jing2泡影
Jyutpingpaau1 jing2
Yalepāau yíng
Definition
Fleeting, illusory, or short-lived things.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Used to describe hopes, dreams, or plans that vanish quickly without leaving a trace. It carries a slightly poetic or philosophical weight, often implying that the speaker is reflecting on the impermanence of worldly success or ambition. While it originates from Buddhist scripture, it is commonly used in everyday speech to express disappointment when expectations fail to materialize.
Examples
His get-rich-quick dreams turned out to be nothing but a fleeting illusion.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 泡沫, which specifically refers to bubbles or economic bubbles. While both imply something fragile, 泡影 focuses on the intangible nature of dreams or illusions, whereas 泡沫 is more often used for physical bubbles or market instability.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
