constant and unpredictable changes
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
constant and unpredictable changes; things change rapidly and unpredictably
literaryA classical idiom used in literary or formal contexts to express the fickleness and impermanence of worldly affairs. It originates from Du Fu's poem: "天上浮云如白衣，斯须改变如苍狗" (The floating clouds in the sky were like white garments, but in a moment they changed into grey dogs).
Huí回
shǒu首
wǎng往
shì事
，
zhēn真
shì是
bái白
yún云
cāng苍
gǒu狗
，
cāng沧
hǎi海
sāng桑
tián田
。
Looking back on the past, everything has changed dramatically and unpredictably.
Guó国
jì际
jú局
shì势
rú如
bái白
yún云
cāng苍
gǒu狗
，
lìng令
rén人
nán难
yǐ以
zhuō捉
mō摸
。
The international situation is as unpredictable as the changing clouds, making it hard to grasp.
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Rén人
shēng生
jù聚
sàn散
，
bái白
yún云
cāng苍
gǒu狗
，
bù不
bì必
guò过
yú于
gǎn感
shāng伤
。
The gatherings and partings in life are as fickle as the changing clouds, so there's no need to be overly sentimental.