impermanent; fickle; death (euphemism)
Meanings
3 senses · 9 examplesadjective
constantly changing; unpredictable; impermanent
Describes weather, moods, or situations that are variable. Often used in set phrases like 反复无常.
The weather here is unpredictable.
Life is impermanent, so we must cherish the present.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
He is so fickle and unpredictable, making him hard to trust.
noun
Wuchang; the Impermanence Ghost (spirit who escorts souls to the afterlife)
culturalIn Chinese folk religion and Buddhism, Wuchang refers to spirits that enforce impermanence. There are two types: Black Impermanence (Hei Wuchang) and White Impermanence (Bai Wuchang).
Legend says that when a person is about to die, the Wuchang ghosts come to claim their soul.
The Living Wuchang in Lu Xun's writing is a figure full of human compassion.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
In folk belief, the Black and White Wuchang are responsible for escorting dead souls to the underworld.
verb
to die (euphemism); to pass away
formalA polite, indirect way to say someone has died, similar to 'pass away' in English. Often used in the phrase 一旦无常.
Once one passes away, everything comes to an end.
He instructed his family that if he should pass away, they should not hold an elaborate funeral.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
The ancients said: life and death are unpredictable.