In Chinese culture, particularly influenced by Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, the concept of impermanence (无常, wúcháng) is deeply ingrained. Life, youth, beauty, and happiness are all seen as inherently transient. The word 短暂 (duǎnzàn) perfectly captures this sentiment. Unlike the Western concept of “carpe diem” (“seize the day”), which often carries an active, almost urgent undertone of making the most of a fleeting moment, the feeling behind 短暂 can be more passive and appreciative. It is a recognition and acceptance of the transient nature of things. A classic example is the appreciation of cherry blossoms (樱花, yīnghuā), whose beauty is famous precisely because it is so 短暂. The goal isn't just to “use” the moment, but to witness and appreciate its fleeting beauty with a sense of peaceful, perhaps slightly melancholic, awareness. This term encourages one to cherish the present precisely because it will not last, finding beauty in its impermanence rather than sorrow.
短暂 is more common in written language and slightly more formal speech than in casual, everyday conversation. You wouldn't typically use it to describe your lunch break unless you were being poetic.
The most common mistake for learners is confusing 短暂 (duǎnzàn) with its simpler component, 短 (duǎn). They are not always interchangeable. Rule of Thumb:
Examples of incorrect usage:
Think of 短暂 as “brief and fleeting,” while 短 is just “short.”