ephemeral
Meaning: Lasting for only a very short time; transient, fleeting, and quickly forgotten or destroyed.
Ephemeral is a word with a poetic, almost wistful quality, used to describe things that are beautiful or significant precisely because they are impermanent — cherry blossoms, youth, fame, social media posts. In biology, 'ephemeral' describes organisms with very short lifespans, such as mayflies. In art, ephemeral works are designed to exist only temporarily. The word has gained new currency in the digital age, where content is increasingly disposable.
Examples
- Social media has made fame more ephemeral than ever — viral sensations are forgotten within days. 社交媒体使名声变得比以往更加短暂——网红话题几天之内就被遗忘。Las redes sociales han hecho la fama más efímera que nunca: las sensaciones virales se olvidan en días.SNSは名声をかつてないほど儚いものにした。バイラルな話題は数日のうちに忘れ去られる。SNS는 명성을 그 어느 때보다 덧없는 것으로 만들었다. 바이럴 화제는 며칠 안에 잊힌다.
- The artist specialised in ephemeral installations made from ice, designed to melt and vanish by noon. 这位艺术家专门创作用冰制成的临时装置艺术,设计成在中午前融化消失。La artista se especializaba en instalaciones efímeras hechas de hielo, diseñadas para derretirse y desaparecer antes del mediodía.そのアーティストは氷で作られた儚いインスタレーションを専門とし、正午までに溶けて消えるよう設計されていた。그 예술가는 얼음으로 만든 덧없는 설치 작품을 전문으로 했으며, 정오까지 녹아 사라지도록 설계했다.
- The economic boom proved tragically ephemeral, collapsing within two years of its peak. 经济繁荣被证明是悲剧性地短暂的,在达到顶峰后两年内便崩溃了。El auge económico resultó trágicamente efímero y se desplomó a los dos años de su apogeo.その好景気は悲劇的なまでに短命であり、ピークから2年以内に崩壊した。경기 호황은 비극적일 만큼 일시적이어서 정점에서 2년 만에 붕괴했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, academic, journalism
Tone: reflective
Origin & History
From Greek ephemeros (lasting only a day), from epi- (on, for) + hemera (day). Originally applied to fevers and insects that lasted a single day, it broadened to mean anything short-lived by the 17th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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